Eighty years old,
while tending sheep on a wilderness mountain,
he catches a glimpse of a bush on fire.
What holds his attention, what compels his curiosity is that the bush is not consumed. As Moses moves closer, he hears God speak to him from that bush. And, what he hears shakes him to the core. God commissions him to do what seems impossible – to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, to free them from the bondage of slavery.
Certainly God couldn’t expect him to be their deliverer. Forty years earlier in his prime, it may have been possible. But not now!
God’s response? Moses, this time,
“I will be with you.” (Ex. 3:12)
Then God did something for Moses that He had not even done for the great patriarch Abraham, nor his descendants, Isaac and Jacob. God revealed to Moses His name – “I Am.” Abraham knew God by a title, “Almighty God” but to Moses, a man whose hopes, dreams, and aspirations had become ashes of despair and resignation, to this man, the Lord revealed His name.
“This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I Am has sent me to you.”’ (Ex. 3:14)
With the name “I Am,” God declares He is a “present tense” God. He is not just a God of the past who has done great things. Nor is He just a God of our future, who is the hope of our salvation.
He is the God of our present. He is our “present tense” God.
He was and He will be, but with the revelation of His name, He is declaring the He desires a relationship with us in the present. He wants us to know Him as the God of our every day, not just for the crisis moments of our lives. Each day He wants us to be reminded of this:
I Am your Savior.
I Am your strength.
I Am your peace and comfort.
I Am your teacher, your guide.
I Am your present help.
We may not see a burning bush nor hear Him speak to us with a voice, but God still wants us to know Him as Moses did – as the “I Am,” as our present tense God.
Joy Gruits is a Christian educator, speaker, and writer. Her passion is to share a Biblical truths that challenge and motivate people to become devoted followers of Christ who fulfill God's divine purpose for their lives.
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Praise God Joy you always encourage me with your messages. I pass them on to my friends.
Blessings
Susan Delida
Very good word. A couple of months ago, I think, I was riding my bicycle home from work. I was meditating about how I could take captive my thoughts. The Lord spoke to my heart His name. I AM. I knew in an instant with the Name what I couldn’t even put in words at that time to even begin to explain that I knew what He meant. I now can explain it and it is so simple. Whenever I am doubting, whenever I begin to feel oppressed, whenever I am being hammered with any unpleasant, unholy thought. I praise His name. I praise Him continually. Even before I go to sleep I ask the Holy Spirit to unite with my spirit while I sleep to praise Jesus name. Even now as I type these words I remember how awesome and powerful He declared His name to me. I could almost feel the earth shake at the power of His name. I just wanted to share this with you.
A very good message, Joy…I AM is in control!
What a great reminder! Our ever present God!! Thanks Joy
I am happy to be getting back to reading what you know to share with us. A reminder that God is ever-present in the good, the bad and the ugly, helps guide our steps and, when necessary, redirects the course of our path. Thanks. Anxious to get back to reading more…