Why They Used God's Name

Why did these missionaries, Bible translators and teachers use God's personal name, Jehovah so extensively? Particularly because they found it necessary to distinguish between Jehovah, the only true God, and the multitude of false gods worshiped by Pacific islanders. (John 17:3; 1 Corinthians 8:5, 6) Each of these gods had a name, and it was only natural for their worshipers to ask, "who is your God? What is his name?" Using the local term for "god" would have confused those asking or perhaps resulted in their simply thinking of the Almighty as yet another god to add to their pantheon of gods. So it should b no wonder that these early missionaries used Jehovah's name extensively.

Does this mean that all those who use the name Jehovah really understand who he is? No, Hiram Bingham, a missionary translator and son the the famous Hawaiian missionary of the same name, witnessed the inhabitants of Abaiang (in Kiribati) shouting "there is only one God - Jehovah" While they destroyed their idol. But Missionary Adventures in the South Pacific says of this incident:

Bingham knew, however, that the fall of that idol did not mean that the people were really embracing Christianity - at least not yet. They had not grasped much of the true significance of the gospel message, but a beginning was being made." Obviously, more is required than just knowing the name Jehovah as a person and obey him in every respect. - Romans 10:13-17.

Even faithful Moses, a man who knew Jehovah's name and used it, needed to know more. He prayed: " Now, if, please, I have found favor in your eyes, make me know, please, your ways, that I may know you, in order that I may find favor in your eyes." (Exodus 33:13) Yes, Moses wanted to know more than just Jehovah's name. He wanted to know Jehovah's qualities and how to please him. Because of this request, Moses was granted a marvelous privilege, that of seeing a manifestation involving the meaning of Jehovah's name.- Exodus 33:19; 34:5-7.

Likewise today, thousands of Jehovah's Witnesses throughout the Pacific region are using the Bibles originally translated by early missionaries to help honest hearted ones to come to understand not only the meaning of Jehovah's name but also what he requires of those who would worship him "with spirit and truth. (John 4:23, 24) Yes, Jehovah's name is being glorified in "the island of the sea." Many thousands are therefore putting their hope in his majestic name.- Isaiah 24:15; 12:12; 51:5; Proverbs 18:10.