I AM – Dr. Larry Ollison
What’s the that means of I AM WHO I AM in Exodus 3:14?
“God appeared to Moses within the burning bush and instructed him to go to Egypt to guide the Israelites out of slavery. In response, Moses mentioned to God, “Suppose I am going to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has despatched me to you,’ and so they ask me, ‘What’s his title?’ Then what shall I inform them?” (Exodus 3:13).
God mentioned to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. That is what you’re to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has despatched me to you’” (Exodus 3:14).
The phrase translated “I’m who I’m” in Hebrew is ehyeh asher ehyeh. The phrase ehyeh is the primary particular person frequent singular of the verb to be. It will be utilized in any variety of regular conditions: “I’m watching the sheep,” “I’m strolling on the highway,” or “I’m his father.” Nevertheless, when used as a stand-alone description, I AM is the last word assertion of self-sufficiency, self-existence, and fast presence. God’s existence just isn’t contingent upon anybody else. His plans usually are not contingent upon any circumstances. He guarantees that He will likely be what He will likely be; that’s, He would be the eternally fixed God. He stands, ever-present and unchangeable, fully ample in Himself to do what He wills to do and to perform what He wills to perform.
When God recognized Himself as I AM WHO I AM, He said that, regardless of when or the place, He’s there. It’s much like the New Testomony expression in Revelation 1:8, “‘I’m the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who’s, and who was, and who’s to return, the Almighty.’” That is true of Him all the time, however it could have been particularly acceptable for a message in Moses’ day to a individuals in slavery and who may see no manner out. I AM was promising to free them, and so they may depend on Him!
Moses and Aaron delivered the message to Pharaoh: “That is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my individuals go, in order that they could maintain a competition to me within the wilderness.’” Pharaoh replied, “Who’s the LORD, that I ought to obey him and let Israel go? I have no idea the LORD and I can’t let Israel go” (Exodus 5:1–2).
Pharaoh stood in opposition to the LORD. Pharaoh was not prepared to concede that there was an influence increased than himself. He was not prepared to yield his plans to the One who was omnipotent and all-sufficient. In essence, Pharaoh was saying “I’m who I’m, and subsequently I can’t yield to a different.” This appears to be the besetting sin of humanity. God is “The Nice I AM,” however we regularly wish to be our personal “I AM.” We make plans and decide that we are going to fulfill them it doesn’t matter what. Even proof on the contrary doesn’t readily persuade us of our weak spot and contingency.
One in all Frank Sinatra’s signature songs was “I Did It My Manner.” The ultimate traces of the tune, written by Paul Anka, specific a standard chorus of mankind:
For what’s a person, what has he received?
If not himself, then he has naught
To say the issues he actually feels
And never the phrases of 1 who kneels
The file exhibits I took the blows
Likewise, the ultimate stanza of the poem “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley expresses a lot the identical sentiment:
It issues not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I’m the grasp of my destiny,
I’m the captain of my soul.
God is the one One who can precisely describe Himself as “I AM.” Jesus claimed the title I AM for Himself in John 8:58. For the remainder of us, “I’m” is a false declare to self-sufficiency. We’re not eternally fixed or ever-present. Our solely hope is to desert claims of our personal sovereignty and sufficiency and forged ourselves upon the mercy of I AM.’ from the article: What is the meaning of I AM WHO I AM in Exodus 3:14?
