God IS

Introduction:

Exodus 3:13-15

Pray

Intro: 2020 has and is forcing us to look in many directions for hope and direction. I believe this passage shows us who to look to and why we should look.

The history of Israel in Egypt.

History of Moses and his journey into the wilderness

Burning bush moment

Exodus 3:13-15

MOSES QUESTIONS: Moses ask God who he is. He does this so can tell the people of Israel who sent him to them.

This is Moses’ response to the burning bush and the command that He is supposed to lead the people of Israel out of slavery.

moses poses a reasonable request, “who do I say sent me?”

This would be important information for Moses to know because the people may not trust him. The may belittle his rescue effort.

It is important to note that Moses anticipates the people to ask “what is his name”.

There were many gods in that day and especially in ancient Egypt. This question would have mattered greatly to the people as to whether they would trust Moses or not.

I AM WHO I AM: This God’s first response to the question that Moses gives.

God responds to Moses’ question by not answering it. He does not give his name here but instead tells Moses of his being. God skips the name giving and focuses on who he is.

This is to say that God tells Moses, “before you get my name and compare me to all the other gods, or size me up, or wonder if i am true, or even use my name to advance this cause, first understand this; I AM WHO I AM. In other words, I am the God who is.

“I AM” Hb. meaning: to occur, to happen, to have

God wants Moses to understand what kind of God He is. He wants Moses to be so amazed with him that the fantastical tasks that will follow will seem logical and understandable. God is setting the bar for Moses on the kind of faith he must have in Him.

For God to be the “I AM” means that He is. It means that he has always existed and will always exist. Every event and every generation has been seen by the eye of God and directed by his hand.

Psalm 102: 23-27

Psalm 103:17-19

I AM HAS SENT ME TO YOU: This is the second answer that God gives Moses.

God still hasn’t given his name yet, but he seems to be connecting his essence to his name. God’s being is in congruence with his name.

What an answer that Moses would give to the people, The I AM has sent me to you. That answer should make you listen, that answer should make you think, that answer should make you surrender.

When “go out” or engage lost people, how often do we operate as if the I AM has sent us there.

Jobs, families, children, neighbors

This should change the way we operate.

THE LORD, GOD OF ABRAHAM , ISAAC, AND JACOB HAS SENT ME TO YOU: Finally God says his name and he says YAHWEH has sent you.

God’s name is usually translated as LORD in the OT. But the literal name of God is Yahweh.

This name was recognizable, it meant something, the people knew that name.

God paired his name with the generations past. The well known figures of history was governed by the same God that spoke to Moses.

This emphasizes the statement “God is”.

This also says that what Abraham experienced, I was there. What Isaac went through, I was there. All that Jacob went through I was there. Not only was I there but I was God over those issues.

Conclusion

GOD WILL ALWAYS HAVE HIS NAME, AND SHOULD ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED: This is God’s ending to his explanation of his name. His tells Moses that it will be that way forever, but that it should be remembered throughout all generations.

“This is my name forever”: Yet another mention that God is everlasting to everlasting. Further confirmation that God is.

“I am to be remembered throughout all generations”: This is an amazing statement because it implies a couple things.

first, as stated already, God will continue on for eternity. He will exist as God for eternity. This is great hope for us.

Second, For God to be remembered as this means that His people must teach it. This must be taught to every generation.

We are to rehearse this truth with ourselves. It is easy to forget that God has always been and will always be, in the middle of tough times.

We are to teach this to our kids, family, those whom we disciple.

This is so important for us to understand when we face trials and hard times, God has seen it all before and has carried his people through.

God’s word is to be discipling us, not the mainstream media

Jesus Christ should be our hope, not a presidential candidate.