Exod. 3:14 Elohim said to Moses, "I Am who I Am. Thus shall you say to the children of Yisrael, 'I Am has sent me to you.... [15] Yahweh Elohim of your fathers...has sent me to you. This is My Name forever and this is My remembrance to all generations.'"

Deut. 18:18 (And) I shall raise up for them a Prophet like you out of the midst of their brothers, and I shall put My Words in His mouth and He shall speak to them all that I command Him, [19] and it shall be, the man who does not listen to My Words which He speaks in My Name, I will require it of Him.

Matt. 10:34 Think not that I have come to bring peace on earth; I did not come to bring peace but a sword, [35] for I have come to bring division, a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, [36] and a man's enemies are they of his own household."

For over two-thousand years now this battle has been waged, a battle concerning His alleged "Elohim-ness" or "deity", and today as at no other time in history, a call is being proclaimed aloud to which the ambassadors of truth are obliged to answer. The issue which the question centers around is 1) whether Yahshua pre-existed, and 2) whether He, in His preexistent state, was the "I AM" or Yahweh of the First Testament. Do the Hebrew Scriptures teach that Yahshua is Yahweh? More importantly, can it be shown from the Hebrew Scriptures that Yahshua MUST be Yahweh to be Messiah?

Those denying Yahshua's Elohim-ness postulate that Yahweh is an absolute unity, that He cannot be tempted, and that He cannot die, and upon these three supposedly "implicit proofs", they conclude that Yahshua cannot be Yahweh. Scripture, in contrast, proclaims that Yahweh is an ECHAD or composite unity (Deut. 6:4, Prov. 30:4, Isa 44:6), that Yahweh CAN be tried or tested (Exod. 17:7; Num. 14:22,23; Deut. 6:16; Psa. 78:18,41,56; 95:9; 106:13), and that an ASPECT of Yahweh can die which has assumed human flesh (Psa. 22:16, Zech. 12:10, Lk. 24:36-39).  Based on the aforesaid assumptions, however, an alarming number of Christian and Messianic believers now claim that it is impossible for Yahshua to be Yahweh, as they ignore the "proofs by necessary inference" or straight forward Scriptural facts which leave room for no other legitimate explanation.

NECESSARY INFERENCE PROVES YAHSHUA IS YAHWEH

Isa. 44:6 Thus says Yahweh, Sovereign of Yisrael, AND His Redeemer, Yahweh of Hosts): "I am ALEPH TAW (the Beginning and Ending), besides Me there is no Elohim.

Rev. 1:17b Do not be afraid, I am the Beginning and the Ending (ALEPH TAW), [18] and the Living One. And I became dead, and see, I am living forever and ever...and I possess the keys of the grave and of death.

Truth by necessary inference: Yahweh professes Himself to be the all-encompassing and only Elohim or Deity. Yahshua professes Himself to be the beginning, ending, and presently existing one. Therefore Yahshua must be Yahweh if He is Messiah, seeing that He claims the position of the Eternal.

YAHSHUA IS CREATOR

Isa. 44:24 Thus said Yahweh, your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb, "I am Yahweh that makes all things, stretching out the heavens all alone, spreading out the earth by Myself."

Job 9:2 ...How is man right with Elohim... [8] stretching out the heavens by Himself?...

Neh. 9:6 Thou, thou Yahweh alone, thou hast made the heavens...with all their host, the earth and all that are on it, the seas and all that are in them, and You give life to them all. And all the hosts of the heavens worship You.

Psa. 33:6 By the Word of Yahweh the heavens were made, and all their host by the Spirit (RUACH) of His Mouth.

Sirach 43:23 By His plan he stilled the deep and planted islands in it... [26] because of Him each of His Messengers succeeds, and by His Word all things hold together. (Apocrypha)

Jhn. 1:3 In the beginning was the Word, and that Word was with Elohim, and Elohim was that Word. [2] This was in the beginning with Elohim. [3] Everything through His Hands existed, and without Him not even one thing existed of the things which have existed... [10a] He was in the world, and the world by His Hand existed. --Younan's Peshitta Interlinear Version (YPIV) adapted

Col. 1:16 Because in Him (Yahshua) were created all that are in the heavens and that are on earth, visible and invisible....all have been created through Him and for Him. [17] And He is before all, and in Him all hold together... [19] Because in Him all the fullness of Elohim was pleased to dwell.

Heb. 1:2b ...His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all, through whom also He made the worlds, [3] being the exact representation of His substance, and sustaining all by the Word of His power... [8] To the Son He says, "Your throne O Elohim, is forever and ever, a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your reign.... [10] And You, Yahweh, did found the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of Your Hands."

Eph. 3:9 ...This secret is administered, which for ages past has been hidden in Elohim who created all things through Yahshua the Messiah.

Truth By Necessary Inference: The Tanakh (Hebrew First Covenant) teaches us that Yahweh Created the world by Himself, while the Apostolic Scriptures teach us that the world was created through Yahshua and for Yahshua. Therefore Yahshua must be Yahweh as the creating force/Word which proceeded from the Father's mouth, or else in claiming the position of "Creator", He spoke false words.

YAHSHUA IS CALLED RABBI / TEACHER

In the book of Isaiah we find a promise which speaks of all Israel being taught by Yahweh.

Isa. 54:13 Your children (will) all (be) taught by Yahweh, and the peace of your children (will be) great.

The prophet, Joel, similarly states:

Joel 2:23a And you children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in Yahweh your Elohim, for He shall give you the Teacher of Righteousness.

Yahshua, referring to this prophecy, says:

Jhn. 6:45 It has been written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by Yahweh'. Everyone then who has heard from the Father and learned, comes to Me."

Matt. 23:8 You do not be called Rabbi (Great One / Teacher), for One is your Rabbi, the Messiah, and you are all brothers.

Jhn. 13:13 You call me Rabbi/Teacher and Master, and you say well, for I Am.

The prophets foretold of a time when all would be taught by Yahweh, and Messiah Yahshua clearly identifies Himself as being this Rabbi/Teacher who was referenced in the prophets.

Truth By Necessary Inference: Tanakh and Yahshua both teach that Yahweh is the only Great One/Rabbi/Teacher. Therefore Yahshua must be an aspect/element/dimension of Yahweh to be Messiah, or else in claiming the title "Rabbi/Teacher", He spoke false words, and contradicted Himself.

YAHSHUA IS JUDGE

Isa. 33:22a Yahweh is our Judge...

Isa. 3:13 For Yahweh shall stand up to plead, and is standing to judge the peoples.

Psa. 75:7 Elohim is the judge: He puts down one, and exalts another.

Psa. 50:6 And the heavens shall declare His righteousness: for Elohim is judge Himself. Selah.

Psa. 96:10 Say among the nations that Yahweh reigns from the wood:* the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: He shall judge the people righteously.  * 1 C.E. Manuscripts, as quoted by Origen, Justin Martyr, et al

1Chr. 16:33 Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of Yahweh, because He cometh to judge the earth.

Psa. 98:9 For Yahweh shall come to judge the earth: with righteousness He shall judge the world, and the people with equity. (cf. 96:13)

Isa. 11:1 And a Rod shall come forth from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. [2] And the Spirit of Yahweh shall rest upon Him, - the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Yahweh. [3] And He shall make Him breathe in the fear of Yahweh. And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears. [4] But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and shall decide with equity for the meek ones of the earth, and shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and slay the wrong with the breath of His lips.

Jhn. 5:22 For the Father judges no man, but has given all judgement to the Son.

2Tim. 4:1 ...The Master, Yahshua the Messiah, who shall judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His reign...

Acts 17:31 Because He has set a day in which He is going to judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has appointed, having given proof of this to all by raising Him from the dead.

Tanakh teaches us that Yahweh is Judge Himself, while the apostles teach that Yahweh has committed all judgment to the Son. What the Scriptures teach us in this case, is that the Son must be ECHAD/united with the Father in the singular Being of Yahweh, who says that He will judge the world HIMSELF, and not through another.

YAHSHUA IS LAWGIVER

Isa. 33:22a ...Yahweh is our Lawgiver...

Exod. 20:5 For I, Yahweh your Elohim, am a jealous El, visiting the crookedness of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, [6] But showing kindness to thousands of those who love Me and guard My commands. (cf. Deut. 5:9,10)

Gen. 49:10 The scepter shall not turn aside from Yahudah, nor a Lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to Him (Messiah) shall be the obedience of the peoples.

Matt. 28:18 And Yahshua came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. [19] Therefore go and make taught ones of all the nations....[20a] teaching them to guard all that I have commanded you."

Matt. 5:17 Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah (Law) or the Prophets; I did not come to destroy, but to establish.

Jhn. 8:31 If you continue in My Word, you are truly my taught ones, [32] and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.

Jhn. 14:15 If you love Me, you shall guard My commands.

Truth By Necessary Inference: Yahshua calls Yahweh's Torah "My Word" and "My Commands". Further, His statement that "All authority is given Me in heaven and on earth" (Matt. 28:18) is blasphemy, unless he is Yahweh under veil of human flesh, because Yahweh said, "Place no elohim (deities) before me", and if Yahweh now gave Yahshua all power in heaven and earth, without Yahshua being a part of Himself, He placed an elohim above Himself, disobeying His own command.

YAHSHUA IS SOVEREIGN

Isa. 33:22b ...Yahweh is our Sovereign.

Matt. 28:18-19 And Yahshua came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth."

Mark 15:2 And Pilate asked Him, "Are you the Sovereign of the Jews?" and He, answering, said unto him, "You say it!"

Jhn. 18:33 (Pilate) called Yahshua and said to Him, "Are you the Sovereign of the Jews?"... [37b] Yahshua answered, "My reign is not of this world...." [38] Then Pilate said unto Him, "You are a Sovereign then?" Yahshua answered, "You say it, because I am a Sovereign. For this cause I was born, and for this have I come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice."

Truth by necessary inference: Yahshua professes to be the King of Israel who has come into the world, whose kingdom exceeds earthly bounds. Such an inference is blasphemy unless Yahshua is Yahweh, who alone holds eminent domain.

YAHSHUA IS THE ROCK

Isa. 44:7 Who is like Me (declares Yahweh)? Let him call and declare it, and lay it before Me, since I appointed the everlasting people and the events that are coming... [8] ...Is there an Eloah (Deity) besides me? There is no other Rock; I know not one."

1Cor. 10:1 For I do not wish you to be ignorant brothers, that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, [2] and all were immersed into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, [3] and all ate the same spiritual food, [4] and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed, and the Rock was the Messiah.

Jer. 3:1 Yahweh said, If a man puts away his wife, and she goes from him and becomes another man's, does he return to her again? Would not that land be made greatly unclean? But you have committed whoring with many lovers. And would you return to Me? declares Yahweh.... [8] And I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce...

Isa 54:5. For your Maker is your husband, Yahweh of Hosts is His Name, and the Set-Apart One of Israel is your Redeemer. He is called the Elohim of all the earth. [6] For Yahweh has called you like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, like a wife of youth when you were refused, declares your Elohim.

From this it is therefore evident that Israel is married to Yahweh. Now what else can we find?

Jhn. 1:29     Yahshua is the Lamb of Yahweh

Rev. 21:9     Israel is The Lamb's Wife.

Zech. 2:10 Sing and rejoice O daughter of Zion. For behold, I am coming , and shall dwell in your midst, declares Yahweh. [11] And many nations shall be joined to Yahweh in that day, and they shall become My people. And I shall dwell in your midst, and you shall know that Yahweh of Hosts has sent me to you.

Zech. 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Tziyon. Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! See, your Sovereign is coming to you, He is righteous and endowed with deliverance, humble and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Isa 62:5. For as a young man marries a maiden, so shall your Sons/Son marry you. And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your Elohim/Eloah rejoice over you.... [11] ...Say to the daughter of Zion, Behold, your salvation (YASHA) has come...

Truth by necessary inference: Unless Yahshua is an aspect or dimension of Yahweh, He is married to His Father's wife, which is both adultery and incest. Therefore unless Yahshua is Yahweh, He can neither be Messiah, nor can the apostolic writings be the Father's Word.

WALKING ON THE WATER

Job 9:4a Yahweh, wise in heart and mighty in strength... [5a] He who removes mountains, and they do not know it... [6] who shakes the earth out of its place and its columns tremble, [7] who commands the sun, and it does not rise; and He seals up the stars, [8] stretching out the heavens by Himself, and treading upon the waves of the sea.... [19a] If I speak of power, look He is mighty.

Mat. 14:25 And in the fourth watch of the night, Yahshua went to (the disciples), walking on the sea. [26] And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea they were troubled, saying, "It is a phantom!" And from fear they cried out. [27] But immediately Yahshua spoke to them saying, "Take courage. I AM (Aramaic, ENA-NA -- a term reserved exclusively for Yahweh). Be not afraid." (cf. Mark 6:48-50)

Job identifies Yahweh as mighty in strength and possessing power to walk on the waves of the sea, because He created them. Yahshua not only does this very thing to reveal His identity, but afterwards proclaims Himself as "ENA-NA", or "I AM" which is an Aramaic term reserved exclusively for Yahweh.

YAHSHUA IS THE LION OF JUDAH

In the book of Revelation, John writes:

Rev. 5:5 Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, overcame to open the scroll and to loosen its seven seals. [6]. And I looked and saw....a Lamb standing, as having been slain.... [9] And they sang a renewed song, saying, "You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals, because you were slain, and have redeemed us to Elohim by your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, [10] And made us sovereigns and priests to our Elohim, and we shall reign upon the earth.

Who is this Lion of Judah? We first see that He is the Root of David, and second that He is also a Lamb, alluding to the important role He will play in establishing peace in the Kingdom to come.

Isa. 11:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.... [10] And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse standing as a banner to the people, and unto Him shall the gentiles (or nations) seek...

Lastly we find that the Lion of Judah has been slain and redeemed all nations under heaven by His blood. Who is this Lion of Judah? Since Scripture is a continuous chronology, would we not find our answer in the Tanakh (Hebrew First Covenant)?

Hos. 11:10 Let them follow Yahweh. Like a LION He roars....

Hos. 5:14 "For I am like a Lion to Ephraim, and a young Lion to the house of Judah (says Yahweh). [15] I shall go, I shall return to My place until they confess their guilt and seek My face, in their distress diligently search for Me, and say, [6:1] 'Come, and let us turn back to Yahweh. For He has torn but He does heal; He has stricken but He binds up.'"

Joel 3:16. And Yahweh shall roar from Zion, and give forth His Voice (the Word) from Jerusalem. And the heavens and earth shall shake, but Yahweh shall be a refuge for His people, and a stronghold for the children of Yisrael. [17] Then you shall know that I am Yahweh your Elohim, dwelling in Zion...

Zech. 2:10 ....For Look! I Am coming, and shall dwell in your midst, declares Yahweh.

Hos. 11:9 I am El, and not man, the Set-Apart One in your midst...

YAHSHUA IS YAHWEH'S ARM

Isa. 52:10 Yahweh shall lay bare His set apart Arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our Elohim.

Isa. 59:16 And (Yahweh) saw that there was no Man, and was astonished that there was no Intercessor. So His own Arm upheld Him, and His righteousness upheld Him.... [20] And the Redeemer shall come to Tziyon, and to those turning from transgression in Jacob, declares Yahweh.

Isa. 53:1 Who has believed our report, and to whom was the Arm of Yahweh revealed? [2] For He grew up before Him as a tender shoot, as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should desire Him. - [3] Despised and rejected by men, a Man of pains and knowing sickness. And as one from whom the face is hidden, being despised and we did not consider Him. [4] Truly He has borne our uncleanness and carried our pains. Yet we reckoned Him stricken, smitten by Elohim, and afflicted. [5] But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquity. The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

Truth by necessary inference: Our arms are a physical part of us; they are not a separate entity, nor can they be separated from us without causing great bodily harm. Likewise, Yahweh's arm is not a separate entity, but an aspect or part (or what we might call a lesser "dimension") of Himself which cannot be separated from the greater "body" of Yahweh as a whole, without causing great spiritual harm to our understanding of Him.

Jhn. 1:1 In the beginning was the MILTHA (Word/Manifestation/Substance/ Essence), and the MILTHA was with Elohim, and Elohim was that MILTHA.... [3a] And everything through His HANDS existed.... [14] And the MILTHA (Word/Manifestation/Substance/ Essence) became flesh, and pitched His tent among us, and we saw His splendor, esteem as THE ONE who is from the Father, full of favor and truth. --Younan Aramaic Peshitta Interlinear

Jhn. 12:37 But though (Yahshua) had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, [38] That the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: "Yahweh, who has believed our report? And to whom has the Arm of Yahweh been revealed?"

Isa. 30:30 (Therefore) Yahweh will cause men to hear His majestic Voice (The Word) and will make them see HIS ARM COMING DOWN (AGAIN -- a second time) with raging anger and consuming fire with cloudburst.

YAHWEH ALONE IS MESSIAH / SAVIOR

Psalm 28:8 is the most forceful in proving that the Messiah must be Yahweh, which reads:

Psa 28:8 Yahweh is the saving (H#3444, YAHSHUA) strength of His Anointed (H#4899, MASHIYACH)."

This supports the claims of the Apostolic Scriptures then, that Yahshua was the embodiment of the Spirit/RUACH and POWER/Soul of Yahweh, just as John the Immerser embodied the Spirit/RUACH and Power/Soul of the prophet, EliYah, and as such, was the 'EliYah' who was prophesied to come, "if you are willing to accept it" (Matt. 11:13). Apart from this, MASHIYACH/Messiah" comes from the same Hebrew root as YASHA/Savior (Stone Artscroll Tanakh [2Ed] p.1034) and the Tanakh makes it clear that Yahweh and Yahweh alone is the only Savior of His people, Israel, and as such, only He can save them from their sins.

Isa. 33:22b ...[Yahweh] saves us.

Isa. 43:11 I, even I am Yahweh and besides Me there is no Savior.

Isa. 49:26 I, Yahweh, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Elohim of Jacob.

Hos. 13:4 Besides Me there is no Savior.

And yet, what else did Yahweh say?

Isa. 35:4b Elohim, He is coming to save you.

Isa. 19:20 (Yahweh) sends them a Savior and an Elohim, and shall deliver them.

Ezek. 34:22 I shall save my flock... [23] and I shall raise up over them One Shepherd, My Servant, David (Hebrew, ALEPH TAW EBEDI DAVID, or "Aleph Taw My Beloved Servant"), and He shall feed them and be their Shepherd.... [31] And you, My flock, the flock of My pasture, are men, and I am your Elohim, declares the Master Yahweh.

Matt. 1:21 And she shall give birth to a Son and you shall call his name Yahshua, for He shall save His people from their sins..... [23] See a virgin shall conceive and she shall give birth to a Son and they shall call His name IMMANUEL which translated means EL WITH US!

Acts 13:23 From (David's) seed, according to the promise, Elohim raised up for Israel a Savior, Yahshua.

1Jhn. 4:14 And we have seen and bear witness that the Father has sent "the Son", SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.

And what did Miriam (Mary) say upon being told that this Savior would be conceived in her womb?

Luk. 1:46 My being makes Yahweh great, [47] and my spirit rejoices in ELOHIM MY SAVIOR.

The truth by necessary inference, in this case, is that Tanakh teaches that:

Psa. 49:7 No man can redeem the life of another, or give to Elohim a ransom for him; [8] for the redemption of their soul is priceless and it ceases forever, [9] that He (the Messiah) should still live for ever, (and) not see corruption.

For Yahshua to therefore be the Savior who redeems Israel and pays the ransom for her sins, He MUST be Yahweh under veil of human flesh, because a mere man CAN NOT do this! Even Yahshua's name points to the fact that He is Yahweh, for Yahshua means "Savior YAH" * while EmmanuEl points to the same, meaning "El with us" (H#1694).  These are the names and the titles given to the Messiah! Yahshua is therefore the Savior, only because he is also Yahweh; otherwise he could not be the Savior which Scripture says that He is, for Yahweh already said that he was the only Savior, and even Miriam knew this.  *Strong's H#1955, HoshaYah (Hosea [#1954] + Yah [#3050]) means "Yah has Saved".  Therefore when the order of the two words is reversed to YahHoshea/Yahushua (H#3091), they mean "Savior Yah".