Over the next few weeks the #IKnowHim blog team will be focusing on several different names of God. We feel that meditating on a few of the names of God found in Scripture is one of the best ways to know God. After all, when you meet someone you almost always start by asking their name first. Right? The benefit of looking at the name of God from this perspective is that the names of God have a significant role in describing who He is.
In Exodus, God is asking Moses to go back to Egypt and lead the Israelites out of slavery and into the Promised Land. Moses gets straight to the point with God. He pretty much says, “Wait a second; when I go tell the Israelites that they are to follow me out of slavery, who do I say has sent me? What is your name?” This sort of amazes me. Certainly he knew that he was talking to God!? In fact he said that, but I think Moses was feeling insecure about what God was asking him to do. He just needs to hear it plain and simple from God himself. Exodus 3:14 says,
God 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.’ ”
Just in case you missed it when asked His name God says, “I AM.” No grammar or spelling error in that Bible verse. Not exactly as descriptive as I would want when I was feeling insecure. But, God had the perfect answer. The implication of the name I AM is huge.
I feel there are several things we can know about God from this name. First, God is God. He is deity. He is the supreme being. He is set apart from humanity. God being God is why we pray to Him and not to a rock, a person, a statue, a book or “mother nature”. The next time we have a conversation with God, we can know this: God is God. Let that simmer for a minute.
Second, the name I AM teaches that God is not a creation. Simply put, God just exists without beginning or end. So often in the Bible we are introduced to an individual by learning about his or her lineage. It goes something like this: Joseph son of so and so, son of so and so…sometimes all the way back to God. With the name I AM we can know that, unlike ourselves, God is not a creation or a son of anyone, He simply exists. It’s sort of hard for my mind to wrap around, but that is part of what makes God, God. He simply exists. The converse of this is also true. God doesn’t have an end. There is no tomb out there containing His body. There is no entry for the end of His existence anywhere in time. This is pretty powerful and something to mediate on: I AM did not ever begin and I AM will not ever end.
A third thing that we can know about God through His name, I AM, is this: God is constant and unchanging. I AM exists independent of our desires and dreams. Basically, God is not play dough. Despite the days I wish I could make God do something or be something He simply does not change at my command…or at anyone’s command. His being, His character, His reality will not change.
Moses got what he wanted we he asked God’s name. I AM. Lastly, here is something powerful. In John 8 Jesus is being questioned by the Pharisees about who He was. Do you want to know what Jesus said?
“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” John 8:58
Did you catch it? Who does Jesus say that he is? I AM.
Jesus is saying He is God, He has no beginning or end, and He will not change.
Here is my challenge for you over the next few weeks: Don’t just know about God. Know God. Experience these names we are dwelling on. Read further about them in Scripture. Meditate on the meaning of God’s names. Pray that He will change you by knowing Him.
Do you believe in Jesus? Do you know God? Tell us how can knowing these things about God change your life?
Amy