Yahweh: The Great I AM

“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?'” (Exodus 3:13).

Read Exodus 3:1-15.

When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush and told him He was sending him back to Egypt to deliver His people, Moses was afraid and tried everything to get out of the assignment. The job seemed impossible to him, and he had no reason to think the Israelites would accept him as their deliverer. But Moses wouldn’t be going to Egypt on his own; God promised to remain with him every step of the way. God told the quaking shepherd, “This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you'” (Exodus 3:14).

God is Yahweh, the great I am. He is the self-existent God, the God who is always there—for that is what Yahweh means. You see, God didn’t promise Moses that the road out of Egypt would be an easy one. In fact, He told him it would be just the opposite: that Pharaoh’s heart would be hard, that he would be unwilling to release the Israelites from their bondage until God’s might had been fully displayed (v. 19-20). But all the suffering that God foretold to Moses paled in comparison to His enduring promise: “I will be with you” (v. 12).

Brothers and sisters, no matter what you may be going through, God is with you. He is Yahweh, the God who is always there.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that You never leave me. You are the God who was and is and is to come—the only one worthy of my praise and adoration. I worship You, Yahweh. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.