| YAHWEH |

Yesterday, we saw that Moses was an insufficient redeemer. Today, we see Moses being called and commissioned to rescue the people of Israel in the Name of the Lord. Significantly, Moses’ first attempt at rescue was an attempt in his own name. Moses is being sent back to Egypt in another name.

I Am

God’s kindness and character are wonderfully on display in this episode. First, God condescends. That is to say, he comes down to communicate with Moses, engaging in the work to rescue a people, and he doesn’t just dictate with Moses, but dialogues with him. God’s relationship with Moses is evidence that he is forming a people for himself, just like he promised.

God tells Moses his name is “I AM WHO I AM.” But we must be clear about what this means. When we hear something like that, we can tend to think of Eastern mysticism or European philosophy. It is as though God was saying that he simply is; he is in an eternal state, like some power or force. But the Hebrew people and language do not work like that. When God tells Moses that his name means “I AM WHO I AM,” he affirms his promise is sure. He will do what he says he will do. When God says he is who he is, it is in the context of his declaration of rescue. It isn’t first an ontological statement, a statement of being, though it is no less accurate of his being. God is making a statement not only about who he is but about what he does. God is … the one who rescues. God is Savior. God is Redeemer. The one who is who he is and does what he does has sent you. God is essentially saying, “And I am Rescuer. And I will rescue!” It is interesting then to discover that Jesus’ name means “The Lord saves.”

Who is God?

In the comments below, I encourage you to write a couple sentences answering this question: So far in our reading, what have you discovered about who God is?