During his ministry Jesus used the words "I Am" quite often to describe who he was and is, and what he did, and does. The question may be asked, on what did Jesus base his I Am sayings? I believe it is safe to say that these sayings are an extension, or a further description of who God he is. Jesus is God in His fulness, and therefore he could say, Before Abraham was born I Am (John 8:58). Exodus 3 reveals the origin of the I am sayings, and that these words were first used in the desert when Moses saw the burning bush.

We see Moses standing on the Horeb, the mountain of God. He is a fearful man, and he has reason to be. He has just received his commissioning. God has chosen him to lead his people, the Israelites out of the land of Egypt. Moses had become a shepherd, but he must now leave his shepherding, and return to the land from which he fled forty years ago, because he had killed an Egyptian while trying to defend one of his own people. And now he was to go back? What if someone recognized him. Or, on the other hand, perhaps he had been completely forgotten. How would the Israelites respond to a complete stranger coming to them, claiming to be their saviour, the one who would rescue them from slavery. O he was a fearful man. How was he going to deal with the Pharaoh. Surely he wasn t just going to let these people go. They were far to useful to him in his massive building programs. So Moses objects to God. This is s huge assignment, one that he had not volunteered for, had no training for, and one for which he did not want to be drafted. He felt totally inadequate to do the job.

Well, we can understand that can we not? This is a job that needs be done, be he didn t ask if he could do it. He didn t apply for the job, but he did know about the Egyptian culture. After all he was raised by a former Pharaoh s daughter. By now though, he was happy with what he was doing, and he certainly felt he was not qualified for an encounter with the Egyptian Ruler. But of course, he forgot one thing. When he goes, he will not go alone. Indeed, it is through God himself that he will perform this mighty deed. Moses is expected to put all his trust in the greatness of God.

Imagine with me, this conversation between God and Moses. Moses says, But God, I m a nobody. How can you expect me to do this. and God replies, I ll be with you. You re not alone in this. Just tell them that the God of their ancestors has sent you. O sure! And what if they ask me the name of this God of their ancestors? What will I say then? It s fairly clear that Moses wants to cover all the angles here. Then God tells him his name. Ah but it s more than God just telling Moses God s name...it is a revelation designed to give him encouragement. It is a revelation of who God is; what he is like. It is a revelation which climaxes in the statement of five one syllable words... I am who I am.

Let s look for a moment at the tremendous meaning of this simple but majestic statement, and let it s meaning be imprinted on our minds, so that it might strengthen us as we travel the road of faith. The setting is well known to most of us. We see Moses tending his sheep, when suddenly a bright light appears. It is a bush on fire, but the bush is not consumed by the flames. Moses is curious, and as he walks toward the bush, he hears his name being called, along with a command. Moses, don t come any closer. Take off your shoes for you are standing on holy ground. God was in that burning bush. Do you detect the symbolism? The fire stands for the flames of cruel oppression suffered by Israel, at the hands of the Egyptians, but God is in their midst. He has not forgotten them.

Moses sees God is in the midst of that bush, and he is required to remove his shoes, because God is perfect and pure. In Him there is no flaw or weakness. He is the exalted one, far above his creatures. He is the sovereign Lord, the creator of all things and all people.

O but He is more. Listen again to the words of verse seven as recorded in the New International Version of the Bible. The Lord said, I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt, I have heard them crying because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. What does that tell us? That God is a God of wondrous mercy. Listen to the key words here. Misery, suffering, I have seen, I have heard, I am concerned. These words assure us that God isn t out there somewhere, completely aloof to our problems and concerns. What he did for the Israelites of old, he will do for you. God is not indifferent. He is deeply moved and concerned with your suffering and your needs. He reaches out, with heart and hand. (Gritter, George, Communion Meditations, Michigan, Baker Books, p. 127) We may be assured that he is trustworthy.

Notice that God introduces himself to Moses as the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Abraham was the man with exceptional faith; Isaac was Abraham s covenant child, the one promised even after Sarah and Abraham were beyond child bearing age. And then He is the God of Jacob, Isaac s son, the one who bore the name Israel. With them God had established his covenant, his agreement. He promised to love them, to care for them until the end of time. He would be Israel s God and they would be his chosen people. He is the God who will always be faithful to his covenant promises, and his people. And he is our God as well, for you see, because of Christ, we too are included in this covenant. Scripture makes this very clear when it says, If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham s seed, and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:29). What promise? The promise that God will be our God. That he will take care of us. That he will provide a Savior. We just celebrated His birth! The God to whom we belong is holy, majestic, mighty to save. Were he anything less, salvation would be impossible. Think of His greatness today. Glorify His holy name! Praise Him for His compassion. Give thanks, for He sees, he hears, he is concerned!

Ancient covenants were always signed and sealed with blood. The blood of the covenant symbolized in the wine of the Lord s supper, is the blood of the spotless lamb of God, Jesus Christ. It is the great I Am who provides this for us. When He said to Moses I am who I am it was an expression of stability. God is eternal, and unchangeable. He is never hindered or restricted by anything or anyone in carrying out his eternal plan. People may say what they want about God, and try to drag Him down to human proportions, but He remains God. His power is never decreased. His love is never diminished. He is all-sufficient in Himself. I am who I am means that He is unchangeable in His faithfulness. He preserves, and keeps His people, just as He keeps His promises. We need not worry for what He says he will do, and He will never forsake anyone..

For us, the words I am who I am have been given a greater and richer meaning than they did even for Moses. Jesus identified Himself as the incarnation of the eternal, unchangeable God, when he said, Before Abraham was born, I am. It was our eternally faithful God who in His great love sent His Son to save us from our sin. And remember, Jesus is the same, yesterday, today, and forever, according to Hebrews 13:8.

To appreciate the depth of meaning in God s self given name of I am who I am allow me to remind you of the I Am sayings of Jesus. We have heard Him say, I am the bread of life, I am the light of the world, I am the door, I am the good shepherd, I am the resurrection and the life, I am the way the truth and the life, I am the true vine. Do you see what all these sayings add up to? Nothing less than grace! God, in His grace has given us a Saviour who is all of the above, the Christ of God himself, who is the great I am. It is the supreme divine message of love for all who believe. And now you have no need whatsoever that God cannot fulfill. Wonderful words of comfort, are they not? This is the message of the Lord s Supper. Look to the cross. Remember and believe, that Christ poured out his blood, and allowed His body to be broken, for the remission, and pardon of all our sins. We read in Romans 8:32, He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not, along with Him, graciously give us all things?

So how do we respond to the majestic I am of God? Moses didn t do so well did he, even after God revealed His name to him. He continues to argue with God.You see, Moses saw himself as a nobody. O many make the same mistake so often. We need not look down on ourselves. Because of Jesus Christ we have become somebodies, and in the eyes of God; more precious than silver or gold. O yes, we confess that we must depend on him completely, but he has given us a new and wonderful life.

How do we respond to the wonderful claims of Jesus? You too may begin with an I am. I am one of God people saved by Christ s grace! I am a Christian who has received the mercy of God! I am one of His children whose sure hope is in Christ! All because God has revealed himself to us as the great I AM, faithful, unchanging, loving. Jesus is the fulfillment of God s grace. Today we see, we touch, we taste the symbols of his love. Let us be ever thankful. AMEN