THE ONE WHO IS CALLED "I AM"

As you read this, I pray the eyes of your understanding be enlightened, I pray you be exposed to your shortcomings but be covered by The One who is called “I AM”.

We begin this journey in Exodus 3, which is such a pivotal part of the scriptures where we are introduced to this Israelite Moses, who grew up in an Egyptian royal household and was given the divine mandate of “bringing the Israelites out of Egypt.” In this chapter, The Angel of the Lord appeared to Moses (verse 2); he was introduced to the God of his forefathers (verse 6), where he was given a mandate/purpose (verse 10).

 ² There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.⁶ Then he said, “I am the God of your father,^[a] the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.¹⁰ So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” (NIV)

However, when we proceed further (verse 11), Moses is being faced with a deep sense of his own unworthiness to be used of God, questioning his mere capabilities

 “¹¹ But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

Then in verse 12,

 “¹² God said I will be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

So, to whoever’s doubting their role in the grand scheme of their divine mandate, may you be encouraged in this verse that God is with you.

Immediately after this, a very interesting dialogue occurred between Moses and God in verse 13. Moses asked a very crucial question—one that had never been asked before.

¹³ Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”

 This is the only time it is mentioned in the Bible that someone asked God what His name is. Whereas everywhere else in the bible, the names of God have been generated as a result of God announcing His divine attributes to people, for example, I Am God Almighty, or as a result of people’s experience of who God is to them (Hagar called God El-Roi, not because God told her that He sees, but because she recognised him as one who sees). The one who saw her in her dire situation and came to her rescue.

In Verse 14 God answers Moses.

 ¹⁴God 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.’” (NIV)

Now, “I” is a pronoun and “AM” is a verb. Typically, in such a sentence structure, the verb will be followed by a noun. e.g., I am Your Lord; I am Your Shield. However, the Lord Almighty introduced himself as “I AM.” Did you ever wonder, after God told Moses “I AM,” was Moses not expecting the noun to follow? I know, my imagination is quite the delight. So, it was clear that in the name “I AM,” whatever Moses needed or wanted God to be, HE IS!! A concept so foreign to this Israelite and to some of us in certain life situations.

However, isn’t it interesting that just because God says He is “I AM” doesn’t mean you believe that He is “I AM”? Evidenced by my favourite Israelite Moses again in Exodus 4

 ¹ Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”

 Then in 4:10

 ¹⁰ Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”

Followed by 4:13

But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”

May we never have an encounter with “I AM” and not be conscious of His majesty, splendour and pre-eminence so as not to believe that we can because He is!

So, I have a question for Moses: did you not know that everything you’d ever need was to be found in “I AM”? Certainly not. Pondering this, it became plain that Moses may have just been introduced to the God of his forefathers but without knowing Him. He had no concept of what God was capable of; “I AM” just needed Moses to obey! It will only be through knowing God and developing intimacy with God that Moses (you) will discover who God is and our capabilities in Him. Today, “I AM” is saying to you, son/daughter of the Most High, that whatsoever you need me to be, I AM (there’s a blank space; fill it with what you need Him to be); I possess everything made for you and more because “I AM” is for you and with you! Pray about everything and anything!

Today, God is saying to you, who identify with Moses’ excuses to be used by God, that the God who called you has equipped you with everything you would ever need in Him. I AM yesterday, I AM today, I AM tomorrow! So, trust in THE ONE WHO IS CALLED “I AM,” because every day you wake up, He will still be the same.

Hebrews 13:8

⁸ Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.