(Exodus 3:14)
Bible has used
many names of God. And one of His name is "I AM". The word "Elohim"
was used for God. Elohim is derived from El, its original meaning being "the strong
one" "the mighty one". A mighty God and "I AM WHO I AM" is really
an expression of God's real, perfect, unconditional, independent existence. On the one
side He is a mighty God but on the other side He has the heart of a feeding and nourishing
mother. On the one side He is mighty in deeds and on the other side He cares for His
children and protects His children.
We read in the Old
Testament how God commanded Moses to go to Egypt and deliver the Israelites from bondage.
But Moses was afraid to go and so he asks God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh,
and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" So He said, "I
will certainly 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." Then
Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them,
'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His name?' what
shall I say to them?" And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said,
"Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to
you.'"(Exodus 3:11 14)
Moses goes to
Egypt and talks to Pharaoh but Pharaoh was not in a mood to release the Israelites. Then
we see Moses performing miracles after miracles. God sent ten plagues on Egypt and
delivered His people but their problem did not stop there. Of course they came out of
Egypt but when they looked back, they saw the mighty army of the Egyptians following them
and when they looked ahead of them they saw the Red Sea. They got frightened and thought
it to be the end of their lives. They started crying. Exodus 14:11, "Then they said
to Moses, "Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in
the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt?"
But God never left
them nor forsake them. He went before them as we read in Exodus 13:21, "And the LORD
went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of
fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night."
"He did not
take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the
people."
(Exodus 13:22)
When the Egyptian
army approached them, God said to Moses in Exodus 14:16, "But lift up your rod, and
stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on
dry ground through the midst of the sea."
We also read in
Exodus 14:13 how Moses encountered the people saying, "Do not be afraid. Stand still,
and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the
Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever."
God did exactly as
He told. He made a way in the midst of the sea. We read in Exodus 14:21-22, "Then
Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a
strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were
divided. So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and
the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left."
When the Egyptians
tried to follow the Israelites, they were drowned in the sea as the waters came back upon
the Egyptians. And the Bible says in Exodus 14:31, "Thus Israel saw the great work
which the LORD had done in Egypt; so the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD and
His servant Moses."
By seeing the
great and mighty works of God, Israelites sung the song in Exodus 15:11, "Who is like
You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises,
doing wonders?"
Not only did He
deliver the Israelites from their enemies but He also protected them, He took care of them
all the days when they were in the wilderness. He walked before them and provided for
them. We read that God gave them heavenly Manna and quail for their food and gave them
water to drink whenever they needed. They did not lack anything. The Bible says in
Deuteronomy 29:5, "And I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes
have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet."
Yes, on the one
side He is a mighty God but on the other side He is a God who cares for us - a God who
loves us. That is the reason why He came down in the form of a man to die for us.
Jesus made it
clear that He is the same God who led Israelites through the wilderness. He is the same
God who is the God of Abraham, God of Isaac and God of Jacob.
He said:
"Your father
Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad."
Then the Jews said
to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?"
Jesus said to
them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."
(John 8:56-58)
"Before
Abraham was, I AM" clarified that He was from the beginning and that He is the same
God who has ability to redeem. He is the same God who created heaven and earth. He is the
same God who walked among His people. He is the same God who was a friend of Abraham. He
is the same God who was with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David and all His prophets and His
people. His name is Elohim who was, and is and will be forever and forever. Amen.