“God said further to Moses: So shall you say to the children of Israel: The Lord, the God of your fathers, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, has sent me to you; this is My name forever, and this is My memorial for all generations” (Exodus 3:15). “God said further to Moses: So shall you say to the children of Israel: The Lord [Y-H-V-H], the God of your fathers…” Go and speak to them in My name, which is the attribute of justice, with which I conduct Myself with them due to the merit of their forefathers.
Know that I am speaking about the forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; that is what is written: “The Lord, the God of your fathers, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, has sent me to you.” When Moses heard that He did not mention his father as He had initially,20Exodus 3:6. See the midrash on that verse. he said before Him: ‘Master of the universe, are there sinners in the grave?’ He said to him: ‘No.’ He said before Him: ‘In the past, You said Your name in association with my father, and now You have removed it.’
He said to him: ‘Initially, I tempted you with inducements, from this point forward, I speak words of truth with you.’ “This is My name forever [leolam]” – [leolam is written] without a vav,21When spelled that way it evokes haalama, meaning concealment. so that a person will not enunciate God’s name, as it is written. “And this is My memorial for all generations” – so that one refers to Him only with an appellation.