God is LORD, I AM, the Self-Existent One
Day Six
by Gini Crawford, MSW
www.BecauseOfGod.com
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Explaining the LORD, I AM
Do bushes really talk? Remember the Bible story of Moses and the burning bush? In Exodus chapter three, the One True God remarkably talks through a burning bush, and tells Moses His formal name - I AM WHO I AM, or it could be translated, I am He Who exists. I AM is closely related to God's personal name Yahweh (Hebrew language). In English Bibles the word LORD (in all capitals) is Yahweh, and is used over 6,000 times in the Old Testament.
LORD and I AM both emphasize God's self-existence. They also stress His power, timelessness, and presence.
...So that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me. I, even I, am the LORD, and there is no savior besides Me...And I am God. Even from eternity I am He, and there is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it? Isaiah 43:10-13 NASB®
It makes sense that the One True God is self-existent, doesn't it? Being self-existent means existence derived from itself, having no other source. God doesn't need any element of creation for His existence(Acts 17:24-28). God wasn't created but He is the Creator. Before the earth was formed or even before the beginning of time, the LORD existed (Psalm 90:2). God is the Self-Existent One.
The LORD, I AM cares
The LORD, I AM, the Self-Existent One, created all life and needs no one – yet He incredibly wanted to talk to and share His divine name with the man, Moses, in Exodus chapter three. While talking, the LORD explained to Moses Who He is - that He is the God Who sees, hears, knows and will be with him. Together they would deliver His suffering people, and bring them to a prosperous land. Exodus 3:1-15 is summarized below.
Now Moses... led the flock to... the mountain of God. The angel of the LORD (Jesus Christ) appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush... When the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush... Then He said, "Do not come near here ...for the place on which you are standing is holy ground..." Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. The LORD said, "I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings. So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land... Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt." But Moses said to God, "Who am I... that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?" And He said, "Certainly I will be with 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"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, I AM 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..." Exodus 3:1-15 NASB®
Jesus is the LORD, I AM
Jesus Christ is the LORD, I AM, Who needs no one, yet He died so you could be with Him. This is a life-changing truth for me.. Is it for you? The Gospel of John in the New Testament, teaches us the wonderful truth of Jesus being our LORD, I AM (John 1:1-4, 14, 18, 8:23-24, 58, 14:6-9).
Jesus wants to talk to us, have a relationship with us and provide for us, as He did with Moses and the Israelites. Moses told God, "I can't deliver the people". God told him, "Yes you can because I AM is with you". When you see nothing but doubt, darkness or fear, and wonder if God is even there or near, remember Jesus is the great I AM - His presence and power are there with you.
As I was in the process of editing today's devotional, I went to our Post Office. A bewildered woman was standing there reading something, and looked up and said to me, "Can you explain what the LORD, I AM means?" This took me back because who asks a stranger that question? Then I realized the LORD had set this divine appointment up, and I answered, "Oh yes! It's what I have been writing about." What a remarkable meeting arranged by our great I AM. Jesus was there.
What are your thoughts on Jesus Christ being your LORD, I AM?
Life Application
The Self-Existent One and us
Read Exodus 3:1-15 again from your Bible if you have time. This passage explains God's formal name, but it also gives us a stunning view of Who God is.
Describe God from Exodus 3:1-15.
Did you notice in Exodus 3:1-15, how the LORD, I AM was determined to deliver His people from their suffering? What does this truth mean to you personally?
How did the LORD, I AM, the Self-Existent One, care for His people in Exodus chapter three?
How does He care for you?
An acquaintance told me a disheartening story about not being wanted. She told me, "I went to a small group at my church, and was told, 'We don't have room for you, so don't come back.'" I believe we all need to be wanted, so when we aren't, it hurts, doesn't it? God the Creator and Self-Existent One, chose to create us and love us, because He wanted us. You can't get more wanted by someone than that, can you? God being self-existent means, He doesn't need anyone or anything to exist and to be complete. Yet, He wants me. Oh yes, I am very treasured and wanted by my God, and you are too.
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