I Am Who I Am

I Am Who I Am

When the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt, God charged Moses to confront Pharaoh and demand that he let God’s people go. But Moses was not interested. He was alone in the wilderness tending sheep when God spoke to him, and he was looking for any excuse to refuse God’s command. “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?” God’s response was, “I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you. . . . This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations” (Exodus 3:13-15).

God revealed himself to Moses in a way he had never done before with any other person. He told Moses his personal name. The name was so holy to God’s people that they wouldn’t even say it out loud. So when a man came along taking this name upon himself, they were justly offended. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I AM!” (John 8:58).

If Jesus had wanted to claim only that he existed before Abraham, it would have been simpler to say, “Before Abraham was, I was.” But he was claiming far more than that. And clearly the people who heard him understood what he was saying, since they took up stones to kill him for what they heard as a blasphemous claim to deity.

Jesus, the “I AM,” took these two words upon himself as his deepest identity—the ultimate expression of who he is. He took upon himself the most divine name of God, saying, “That is my name: I AM.”

God has always wanted his people to know him—not in a generic or shallow way, but personally, as he truly is. So he has revealed himself, not only through his name, but also through his glorious presence, through the Law, and through his mighty deeds on behalf of his people. But these revelations all led up to a definitive revelation in the person of Jesus. “Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2). The Son shares not only his nature but also his name.

Great I AM, there is no other God besides you. I stand amazed that you have seen fit to reveal yourself to me.