WHO ARE YOU?

 

November 25, 2024

 Exodus 3:14

“God said to Moses, "I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I am has sent me to you.” 

Living in self imposed exile in Midian because he had killed an Egyptian and in fear he ran. While tending sheep, Moses encountered a burning bush and, in that experience, met God firsthand. God’s message to him was to go back to Egypt and lead his people to freedom. Now let us remember the context of this call. For nearly four hundred years, the children of Israel thought their God had abandoned them,  or was vacationing, or died. 

Think about it not long after Abraham had been introduced to God, and received the  “great Nation” promise, his descendants, found themselves slaves in a foreign land. Slaves!  A promise had been made, that they would be a mighty nation and possess the land of Canaan. But their reality was that they were slaves in the land of Egypt.

In response to God’s call to lead his people to freedom, Moses asked, “Who should I tell them sent me?” God answered, “I AM.” I Am. The meaning is powerful, even when translated into English. To say “I am” means “I exist.” But as a name, it also suggests timelessness, self-sufficiency, changelessness.

 God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’

“This is my name forever,
    the name you shall call me
    from generation to generation.

Now we need to notice that God’s people during the time of Moses may not have been aware of the presence of the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, but God still knew all about them. He knew they would struggle to believe in a God who can’t be seen, a God who transcends time.  He knew they would be inconsistent and faithless, and that they would need constant rescue from the consequences of their own foolish choices. And still He set His affection on them.

We are constantly asking God questions:

Are You able to see me?
Are You going to help me?
Are You willing to forgive me?
Or the big “Why? question” in our hard places.

To all our questions, God answers, “I AM.”

Let Us Pray

I Am, I believe You are the one true God who is near and never changes, though I do not understand completely. Your promises will never fail me. Help me to rely on Your presence, God, and to trust in Your constant faithfulness. Amen.