God said to Moses, “I AM that I AM.” And he said, “You must say this to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
Into the Text
Have you ever looked at a picture or a piece of art and thought, What am I looking at? Moses felt similarly when he saw the burning bush in the desert of Midian. Though the bush was on fire, it would not burn up.
It is in this strange scene that Moses meets with the God of the universe. God would do more than simply call Moses to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land. God would reveal to Moses His character and His name.
What do we learn about God through this encounter? God is all-knowing, all-seeing, and compassionate. He heard the cries of His people and was at work to rescue them.
God is holy. He is completely unlike anyone or anything on earth. God’s holiness dictates every other character trait He possesses. Because He is holy, He is perfectly good, loving, just, gracious, powerful, sovereign and so much more. His holiness should result in our praise.
He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, meaning He is a covenant-keeping—or promise-keeping—God. God promised these men that their family, the nation of Israel, would settle in the Promised Land one day.
Finally, God is the great I AM. With this name, God is revealing His eternal and unchanging nature. He has always been and always will be. He is always faithful, steadfast, self-existent, self-sufficient, and always enough. He is the One True God.
God’s name has not changed, even thousands of years later. God is the I AM today as much as He was to Moses. Today, will you turn to Him, trusting that He is all that you need?
Prayer
God, thank you that you are the great I AM. Please help me to continue to grow in my understanding and reverence of your holiness. May I trust that you are who you say you are and will always come through. Amen.