Text: Exodus 3:1-15; 6:1-8 | Listen to Message
I AM Who I AM
When God chose to reveal His name to Moses, He said, “I AM Who I AM…I am Yahweh…This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations” (Exodus 3:14-15).
But what exactly did God mean, “I AM Who I AM”? His people Israel were suffering through generations of brutal slavery in Egypt and they were convinced God had forgotten them. Did God really think what they needed was some vague, philosophical or ontological statement of being? Of course not! But at the very least, Yahweh was contrasting Himself with the gods of the Egyptians by saying:
- I am the REAL God.
- I am the SELF-EXISTENT God.
- I am the ETERNALLY IMMUTABLE God.
But there’s more – far more – because right on the heels of revealing His covenant name, Yahweh comes down and reveals the character of that name through the events of The Exodus! And those historic, redemptive events show us at least 3 things about this name Yahweh:
1. God has unrivaled power for His people.
No one can stop Yahweh. When he determines to act, there is no god, no king, no army, no sea or desert, and no set of “impossible conditions” that can stop Him.
2. God has unconditional promises for His people.
When Yahweh makes a promise, it’s as good as done. We may not know when or how Yahweh will keep His word, but He always will.
3. God has unwavering presence with His people.
Yahweh wants His people to know and enjoy Him. So He comes to them and He redeems them in love – leading them out of bondage and death into salvation and joy and life.
But The Exodus was a long, long time ago. And many have said that Yahweh was just “the God of the Old Testament.” So how would anyone know Him – let alone access His power, His promises, or His presence – today?
The Bible says we have access through our Lord Jesus Christ. The Gospel of John says over and over again that Jesus is the great I AM (John 6:35; 8:12; 8:58; 10:9; 10:11; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1; 18:5), come down to deliver ALL his people – people of every nation, tribe, and language.
So in the same way that people called on the name of Yahweh thousands of years ago (Joel 2:32), you can call on the name Jesus today (Romans 10:13). And by faith, all the power, and promises, and presence of Yahweh are yours!
Sermon Notes & Application Questions