As the ancient Israelite people–suffering under the hands of the Egyptians–lifted their voices to God for help, He heard their cry and surprisingly responded by sending a fugitive, fearful, and fallen man to their aid. Moses was an unlikely choice to bring about God’s redemption, and yet that’s one of the principles our God employs in shaping and caring for His people.
We are, therefore, as Moses and the Israelites of old were, in need of trusting God despite our perspectives…because of who He is. God’s ways are not our ways, and His essence sustains even the most unlikely of scenarios.
In many ways, Moses was unfit as God’s deliverer of His people.
When God reveals Himself to Moses, he is an old man at 80 years old (Ex. 7:7), a murderer, a fugitive, and working for his father-in-law in an occupation despised by the Egyptians (Gen. 46:34). It is not surprising that even after God miraculously reveals Himself to Moses, he goes so far as to question God, “Then Moses said, “What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? For they may say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you.’” Exodus 4:1
Nevertheless, it is Moses whom God chooses, and God quickly reveals the power and the efficacy behind His choice.
God has always existed in perfect wholeness. This fact God made clear as Moses fumbled through his fear. Wiping away all confusion, God informs Moses that He is the “I AM WHO I AM.” It was from this reality that Moses was to act, move, and respond. God is who God is, and that is enough. He is, in other words, perfectly whole, and from this wholeness, God reveals Himself.
Thus, because God is the I AM, the confidence the people of God has is three-fold:
- God is self-existent: God was not made and exists in completeness; therefore, everything is a derivation according to His good pleasure.
- God is self-sustaining: God is not dependent on anything; therefore, He is sustained within Himself.
- God is self-giving: From God’s wholeness, He creates and sustains for His glory and a display and experience of His goodness.
From this point, God is the I AM, that the Christian–like the Israelites of old–act, respond, and have our being.
In the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son…born of a woman…born under the Law to redeem those who are under the Law. Therefore, those who look to Christ in faith for the forgiveness of their sin and reconciliation with the God who is I AM can objectively view Christ as the fullest expression of God as the “I AM WHO I AM.”
Jesus said…
- “I AM…the bread of life.” (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51)
- Jesus feeds the hungry; therefore, we are satisfied.
- “I AM…the light of the world.” (John 8:12)
- Jesus gives light to the world; therefore, we have clarity.
- “I AM…the door of the sheep.” (John 10:7,9)
- Jesus opens the way to reconciliation with God; therefore, we have peace.
- “I AM…the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25)
- Jesus both conquers death and gives life; therefore, we have hope.
- “I AM…the good shepherd.” (John 10:11, 14)
- Jesus cares for His people as the perfect Shepherd does for His sheep; therefore, we have protection.
- “I AM…the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)
- Jesus provides the truth by giving His life so His people can walk in His way; therefore, we have direction.
- “I AM…the true vine.” (John 15:1, 5)
- Jesus brings bounty and abundance through His self-giving nature; therefore, we have delight.
God helps us healthily struggle with doubt as we consider God’s perfect wholeness as the I AM!