@ StoveBolts
Sorry about the HTML mess (stupid smart phone).
I understand your point about YHVH not being revealed until Moses and about how we, as humans, view God. However, does it not raise some red flags when any particular religious movement, manuscript, and/or individual ascribes attributes to God that are a distortion, a contradiction, if not out right antithetical to the true nature of who God is as revealed at any point in the Bible?
When the Westboro Baptist's hold up signs that say "God Hates Fags" are they simply misguided worshipers of the true God? Certainly not! Because nothing in the Bible could possibly be interpreted to mean that God hates sinners (as opposed to sin). Jesus Himself said that He did not come for the righteous, but for the unsaved.
Therefore we know that the Westboro's are not simply misguided but, flat out wrong.
Ohh, it's your smart phone. Don't you hate that!
I am glad that you used Westboro's as an example (Kinda, even though I think they are just a bunch of lawers hiding behind the guise of christianity). But lets not assume that and instead, give them the benifit of the doubt. While Westboro certainly holds a twisted and distorted view of God's character, they still claim to be worshippers of God, even if their idea of worship looks radically different than ours. I can boldly point out their errors and I can boldly state I disagree with their views, but they still claim the same Jesus and the same Abraham... distorted as it is. God will be their judge.
When both Jews and Muslims/Islamist look at us, they view us much in the same manner that we look at Westboro, especially when we start talking trinity, body and blood of Christ, praying to idols etc. Certainly, they have a long list against us as well. But within context, I'll quote Paul. "All have sinned and fallen short". We all fail to live up to the expectations of God, yes, even Christians, which is why he sent his Son.
If you look down history looking from far above, it goes Abraham, Isaac, Israel, northern and southern kingdom divided, United, Christianity, East and West, Reformation, and a thousand splinter groups from there.
Again, from above, Abram, Ishmael, Mohammad. And all the splinter groups from there.
Do I disagree with Islam's view of God. Why yes I do. But I do not believe, because what is written in our scriptures that they serve a "different God". Simply because there is only one God. And although Muslims have 99 names for God, I know of many, many names that God goes by. El Shaddai being one of those many names of God.
As far as Exodus 6:3, here is what Rashi wrote. Ramban did a more thorough job, but I do not have that in front of me, and it is over a page.
but [with] My name YHWH, I did not become known to them: It is not written here לֹא הוֹדַעְךְתִּי, “but My Name YHWH I did not make known to them,†but לֹא נוֹדַעְךְתִּי, “I did not become known.†[I.e.,] I was not recognized by them with My attribute of keeping faith, by dint of which My name is called YHWH, [which means that I am] faithful to verify My words, for I made promises to them, but I did not fulfill [them while they were alive].
