The Great I AM (The Uniqueness of God)

Introduction

This lesson focuses on the nature of God.

Last week we sought to understand the notion of God’s desire to work through you inspite of you.

One of the things that impacts my will for God’s working through me is understanding God.

Rom 11:33-34 “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! [For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?]” quotes Isa 40:13

Isa 40:28 “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable [has no end].”

Ps 147:5 “Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite.”

But this text gives hope. Deut 29:29 ““The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may [observe all the words of this law.”]

God acts for His glory and for His people.

Same can’t be said of the pagan gods, their approach to their god was ‘hit and miss’ more wishing than confident hope/expectation.

This is not the way YHWH is described Ps 34:4-8.

Our knowledge/understanding of God, directly impacts my treatment of God.

This is why this revealtion in the text is important

Exodus 3:13–17 (NASB95)

Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?”

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”[verb]; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM [noun]has sent me to you.’ ”

God, furthermore, said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations.

“Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I am indeed concerned about you and what has been done to you in Egypt.

“So I said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite, to a land flowing with milk and honey.” ’

When Moses down into Egypt, He will declare “I AM” sent me!

Names were not just labels, but they spoke of character. God’s name, will tell Israel and Egypt of God’s character.

“I AM” tells us a few things about God

Self-existing - nothing brought God into existence, is existence always happened and never not happened. His ‘being’ is continous. Isa 43:12-13. “Even from eternity, I am He” If you ever found the beginning of eternity God was already there.

Self-sustained - God depends on nothing to continue His existence.

Always present - This is the God Israel needed to see. He “did not forget them” - The same God that was with the fathers. . . is with you now.

HE is the God that was, The God that is, and the God that will

All of these qualities stand in contrast to the Egyptian pantheon, and encourages YHWH’s people.

This sets God apart from everything around them and everything they will encounter.

It does this in three ways: [not exclusive]

#1 His Power

Ex 3:17 ““So I said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite, to a land flowing with milk and honey.” ’”

Ex 3:20 ““So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My miracles which I shall do in the midst of it; and after that he will let you go.”

“all my miracles” means that God will show how comprehensive His power is, and how it triumphs over the gods of Egypt.

He has command over all aspects of life and nature [ref. to slide show]

BUT. . .God was the one that was really in control

The Egyptian gods had power over some aspects, that’s why some are more prominent than others, some serve others, some even die.

Ex 12:12 “‘For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments—I am the Lord.”

God is unique. . .His power is unique!

And it remains the same today. There is a god of this world 2 Cor 4:4. But God triumphs over him

# 2 His Presence

Ex 3:15 “God, furthermore, said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations.”

Not just present in this situation, but an abiding presence.

This remeberance is to be accompanied with honour, celebration and worship.

[Num 11:5 shows that they struggled in this area as well]

God not be limited to a shrine like the Egyptian Gods or depended on men to carry their images

God’s very presence would be with them throughout their journey. And He didn’t have to be bribed/fed/clothed to do it!!!

God is unique. . .His presence is unique!

#3 His Promise

Ex 3:15 “God, furthermore, said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations.”

Ex 3:17 ““So I said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite, to a land flowing with milk and honey.” ’”

They are reminded that God always comes through

BTW -God gave them Canaan’s land provision while in the wilderness

Slaves came out with riches because of God

God is unique. . .His promises are unique!

#Sub-point His Provision

Ex 3:21 ““I will grant this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be that when you go, you will not go empty-handed.”

# Application

Under the NT dispensation, we have the Lord. . .and He too is unique

Jn 1:18 “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”

There is no one like Jesus. There is nothing anyone that can offer you that can match what Jesus offers. MATCHLESS!

His Power - Past

His Presence - Present

His Promises - Future

The significance of these is that reminds us that God can meet ALL our needs, even our deepest need.

If God is so unique, does my life reflect my conviction in this truth.

What about my conduct as a Christian

What about my worship and service to God

What about my priorities

Do these things say God is unique, or God is just like the rest?