YHWH Rapha, Moses & the Israelites in the wilderness.

It’s easy to praise God when things are going great, right after a big victory or miracle, just like the Israelites did after crossing the Red Sea. But a few verses later, they faced a tough challenge: no water in the desert. That’s hard! They began to question, grumble, and even doubt.

Exploring this passage, we learn that the same God who rescued His people from Egypt is the same God who cares for them in the wilderness. He asks for our trust and obedience, and in return, He promises care, healing, and restoration.

Let’s explore this story with our littles and teach them about the importance of remembering

YHWH Jireh, The Story of Abraham & Issac.

For littles, this lesson gently introduces the idea that God is always good and always keeps His word, even when we don’t understand what He’s doing. It reassures children that God sees, cares, and provides exactly what is needed at the right time. Teaching YHWH Jireh helps lay a foundation of trust, reminding children that they are safe in God’s hands and can rely on Him in every season.

Psalm 23 holds a very special place in my heart. Some of my earliest childhood memories are tied to this verse, it was one of the first verses I ever memorized, and I’ve carried it with me ever since. I’m usually an NIV girl, but for this one I had to use the NKJV because it’s the version I remember best 🙂

It was also one of the first verses I taught my 3-year-old daughter, and as a sweet surprise, she memorized it too! Even now, hearing her recite it out of the blue melts my heart. Let’s go through it together.

The first compound name we will explore is Shammah, which means “The LORD Is There.” This is a perfect opportunity to help littles understand that God’s presence is real and trustworthy. Even when life feels sad or broken, like it did for God’s people after Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed and the people felt far from home, God promises to make things new. Teaching children this name helps them grasp that God is not just a story or a distant figure, He is always near and lives not only in a temple, but in their hearts.

Our littles are naturally curious about names. They love discovering why someone is called what they’re called, especially when there’s a special story behind it.

In Exodus 3:14-15, we see the first time God reveals His name. Just like our names carry meaning and story, God’s name tells us something true about who He is. YHWH means “I AM” always was, always is, and always will be present and the same. God wants to be known, remembered, and trusted.

Over the next several weeks, we’ll explore the nine compound names of YHWH. But today, we start at the foundation by focusing on what YHWH means and why knowing God’s name helps our children begin to know God Himself.