Having friends of all ages and walks of life is one of my greatest blessings. I’m amazed at all we have in common, how similar are our struggles, our longings and the things that bring us joy. Even in our unique personality types — often the most diverse aspect about us — we share similar needs. One of our most basic needs is that of accurately knowing God. Even the friends who aren’t sure they believe in God still wrestle with exactly who He is and what role He should play in their life.
This need has always existed.
Many generations ago, God called a man named Moses to lead His people out of slavery in Egypt. Though raised in the palace of the Pharaoh, Moses was exceedingly insecure. God’s people, having spent 400+ years in slavery, were severely beaten down. When God began making BIG promises, seemingly impossible promises, Moses wanted to know one thing: By whose authority would he lead? What was God’s name?
“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? God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you” (Exodus 3:13-14).
I AM. The name encompasses the totality of who God is. It’s the name written throughout the Old Testament as LORD (often printed in all capital letters). It’s translated as Yahweh. I believe the name I AM comes to us as an open-ended expression of who God is. There is not one thing we need that God Himself cannot and will not provide. This is what the Israelites needed to know. The circumstances were humanly impossible to overcome. Their needs were immense. The only way they’d receive the deliverance God promised was to trust that I AM would supply every need. And He did.
Fast forward several thousand years. Jesus, God in human flesh comes to earth, saying, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I am” (John 5:58).
We see in Jesus, sometimes most clearly, who God is:
“I am the Bread of Life; he who comes to Me will not hunger.” John 6:35
“I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live, even if he dies.” John 11:25
“I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6
Jesus also called Himself the Gate, the Good Shepherd and the true Vine.
Do we take these titles, these varied descriptions of Jesus, as the literal provision He will give to us? When our souls are hungry, do we believe that Jesus is the “bread” we are truly hungering for? Do we go to His Word, feast on it and find ourselves satisfied? When we’re stumbling in dark circumstances, do we rely on Him to be our Light?
Biblical belief exceeds a simple acknowledgment of who God says He is. True belief causes us to fully rely on, put our hope in and look for no other alternative for our need except for the provision promised us by I AM. Consider what Jesus said: “It shall be done to you according to your faith” (Matthew 9:29). For this reason, I challenge you to diligently implement Way #10 of 52 Ways to Glorify God:
Believe who God says He will be for you.
Who is God, and who will He be for you? He is I AM, and He longs to be the source of everything you need.
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