I AM THAT I AM

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Exodus  3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

In the verse above, God is speaking to Moses out of a miraculous occurrence: a bush which is on fire, but not burnt up. God has declared His intent to free Israel from their slavery under Egypt. God has also ordered Moses to return to Egypt, so that he can lead this transition from oppression to freedom.

Moses responded with doubt and questions. One of these questions is fairly simple: what do I say when people ask "what god sent you?" The answer given here is crucial for understanding the identity and nature of God. This response becomes foundational in both Jewish and Christian theology.

God identifies Himself using a phrase which is actually a description, or a statement: "I AM WHO I AM" or simply "I AM." The first phrase, in Hebrew, is e'heyeh aser' e'heyeh. This is most simply translated as "I am who I am." Other translations of this important phrase include, "I am what I am," or, "I will be what I will be," and it could be taken to mean "that which will be, I am, that which will be" or similar ideas.

The statement carries a sense of necessity, simplicity, and absolute-ness. In using this particular phrasing, God identifies Himself as the self-existent One—the eternal, unique, uncreated God.

God just is. He is the ultimate truth, the only necessary being, the beginning and end, the first cause.

In addition to being told how to identify God, Moses is ordered to tell the Israelites that this same God is responsible for his mission. This is not a scenario where Moses takes matters into his own hands as he did with the taskmaster he killed in Egypt (Exodus 2:11–15).

This mission is God-ordained. God emphasizes His "sending" of Moses several times in this passage (Exodus 3:10, 12, 15). This great task requires God's call, God's power, and God's provision to accomplish. Moses rightly doubted his own abilities. Only with the Lord "with him" could he free the Israelites from slavery. The word e'heyeh—here used to mean "I AM" in reference to God, was also used in verse 12 when God said He "would be" with Moses

So also for you as you begin another journey of the new year, let God be who He needs to be in your life, surrender all to Him, and you will have His full sufficiency.

Moses didn't ague further with God, he obeyed and did just as the Lord has commanded and he became victorious.

Malachi  3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.  God never change, He was, He is, and He is to come, believe in Him, trust Him, and you will never be disappointed.

God bless you.

Prayer key:

1. Lord, thank you for the blessing of today in Jesus Christ name.

2. Lord, be who you need to be in my life in Jesus Christ name.

3. Lord, help me to trust you enough in all my journey this year in Jesus Christ name.

4. Thank you Lord for answered prayers in Jesus Christ name. Amen.