THE STORY OF JESUS: Exodus 1:1-4:17
“God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” (Exodus 3:14)
A name is not just a label, it soon becomes an identity.
Everything we know about that something is associated with that name.
One way the Nazis depersonalized their prisoners was by giving them numbers.
Our names come to characterize our personality, our very being.
What kind of name can capture the being and personality of God?
The name God gives is an open-ended name, it can mean many things.
This is important, because God is way more than we realize.
Jesus shows how this name of God expands to mean everything we need God to be:
— I AM the bread of life (John 6:35,48)
— I AM the light of the world (John 8:12, 9:5)
— I AM the door (John 10:9)
— I AM the good shepherd (John 10:11)
— I AM the resurrection and the life (John 11:25)
— I AM the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6)
— I AM the true vine (John 15:1)
If we need light, He is light; if we need a way, He is the door… etc.
For Israel in bondage, God is their Rescuer; for Moses speaking to Pharoah, God is his voice.
And for humanity, trapped by Satan, sin and death, God becomes our human Saviour… Jesus.
And when challenged to explain Himself to the religious leaders, note His response:
“‘Very truly I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am!’ At this, they picked up stones to stone him…” (John 8:58-59)
Jesus is everything you need Him to be too.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, You are everything I really need. You are God with me, my hope in my battle against Satan, sin and death.
What is in a name?
I remember that even naming my children was a difficult task since somehow we also desired to show God’s presence/honour in naming our children because these kids were His gifts to us. He created them.
And so my name is Christian – showing that it is He Who made me and all that I am to do His works. As He was with Moses and helped him speak and taught him what to say, so He is with all His children as a HelpMate making them GodStrong. God continues to work in and through His children also today empowering His own. I am never along for He is my constant Aid – my ever present Help.
All that I am I owe to Thee,
Thy wisdom, Lord, has fashioned me;
I give my Maker thankful praise,
Whose wondrous works my soul amaze.
Ere into being I was brought,
Thine eye did see, and in Thy thought
My life in all its perfect plan
Was ordered ere my days began.
Thy thoughts, O God, how manifold,
More precious unto me than gold!
I muse on their infinity,
Awaking I am still with Thee.
The wicked Thou shalt surely slay,
From me let sinners turn away;
They speak against the Name divine,
I count God’s enemies as mine.
Search me, O God, my heart discern,
Try me, my inmost thought to learn;
And lead me, if in sin I stray,
To choose the everlasting way.