Thanks for clicking to learn about “What God Says About Himself.” This fascinating topic “called to me,” which means either yours truly or some readers out there could be impacted by these verses. (Maybe both.)
Honestly, I am always moved when reading passages in which God is quoted, speaking directly to His “chosen people” about who He is. In Exodus, God reveals Himself to Moses through the Burning Bush—a bush that was burning without being burned—to catch Moses’s attention. Then God introduced Himself, saying:
“‘I am the God of your father, 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” (Exodus 3:6).
So, God informed Moses that He sees the misery of His people suffering under Egyptian bondage. God continues, saying that He has come down to “rescue them” and bring them to “a land flowing with milk and honey.” After that good news flash, God sprung a life-changing surprise on Moses:
“So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:10). (Read more details in Exodus 3:11-12. Also in Vol. 291, about how Moses tried to wiggle out of God’s mission for him.)
Next, Moses asked God what today we call a “leadership management” question:
“Then 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?” 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'” (Exodus 3:13-14).
That is one of my favorite God-to-man conversations because of the sequel starring Jesus. John’s gospel records Jesus’s teaching in the temple courts, abruptly ending with a famous “mic drop” moment that harkens back to God’s conversation with Moses in Exodus 3:13-14. Jesus said:
“‘Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.’ ‘You are not yet fifty years old,’ they said to him, ‘and you have seen Abraham!’ ‘Very truly I tell you,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!’ At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.” (John 8:56-59).
The Jewish leaders thought it was blasphemous when Jesus said, “before Abraham was born, I am!” and they tried to stone Him.
Circling back to Exodus, when God tells Moses, “I Am,” God proclaims sufficiency; He exists because He created existence. God is eternal, unchanging. God never ends.
Here is a conceptual truth that always thrills me and is worth contemplating in your quiet time. The same God who spoke to Moses speaks to you through Jesus Christ. However, that truth is difficult to grasp. The key verse is “before Abraham was born, I am!” Keep reading; there is more meaning to that verse. But first, we return to God in the Old Testament, where He speaks of His holiness.
God is holy and commands His people to be holy:
“For I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44).
God’s holiness separates Him from sinful humankind. Moreover, God’s character is holy, but since He “created mankind in his own image,” God set the “holy bar” very high for us to grasp daily. Remember that we need God to be holy and to stay holy.
Let’s move to Isaiah, where God declares His greatness, uniqueness, and eternal existence, while proclaiming His supremacy. It’s all in this passage, subtitled “The Lord, Not Idols.” Here are the opening verses:
“This is what the LORD says— ‘Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God. Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before me what has happened since I established my ancient people, and what is yet to come— yes, let them foretell what will come” (Isaiah 44:6-7). (Is God encouraging Messianic prophecies?)
“You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.’ All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame” (Isaiah 44:8-9). (For more about “Rock” see Vols. 261 and 262.)
Again, there is a Jesus sequel to God proclaiming, “I am the first and I am the last,” which addresses Jesus’s eternal nature. Like God, Jesus existed before Creation and will never not exist. Two passages in Revelation declare that truth. In this first vision passage, John falls at the feet of Jesus, who tells him:
“Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades” (Revelation 1:17-18).
Jesus repeats Himself in John’s vision, saying: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (Revelation 22:13).
Like God, Jesus is the “first,” present before and at Creation, and the “last,” ruling over human history. Jesus is the final judge.
Let’s now touch on God’s character. As recorded by Moses, God tells us who He is:
“And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’ Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshipped” (Exodus 34:6-8).
God is the perfect blend of love, compassion, mercy, and justice. However, note that generational cursing is controversial, and some say it is refuted in the New Testament through Jesus. Read more.
Again, we read Isaiah, where God reveals more about who He is and does not hold back from describing His power and might:
“‘Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please'” (Isaiah 46: 9-10).
After reading that passage, I ask, “Why would anyone dare be an atheist?”
Finally, take comfort in knowing that God is constant from generation to generation. He is “abounding in love and faithfulness,” for your sake. Through believing in, trusting, worshipping, and loving Jesus, God invites humanity to know Him personally. So, get to know Him, talk to Him, Jesus is there for you!
I hope this message has uplifted and strengthened you to endure and triumph over whatever challenges you are facing. Amen to that!
Myra Kahn Adams is a conservative political and religious writer. Her book “Bible Study For Those Who Don’t Read The Bible“ reprints the first 56 volumes of this popular study. “Part 2,” reprints Vols. 57 –113. Order it here.
She is also the Executive Director of the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit. You can join our new effort in Orlando, Florida. Contact: Myraadams01@gmail.com
This article was originally posted at Townhall.com.
