The phrase “I AM WHO I AM” is found in Exodus 3:14. This verse reads: “God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And he said, ‘Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.”” This cryptic phrase has been the subject of much discussion and debate among Bible scholars over the years. In this article, we will explore the meaning and significance of “I AM WHO I AM” as it relates to God’s identity and nature.
Context of Exodus 3
Exodus 3 tells the story of Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush. Moses had been tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro when he came upon a bush that was burning but not being consumed. From the bush, God called out to Moses and told him he had seen the affliction of his people in Egypt. God commissioned Moses to go to Pharaoh and demand that he let the Israelites leave Egypt (Exodus 3:10).
Understandably, Moses was hesitant about this monumental task. When he asked God whom he should say sent him, God replied, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). This name revealed aspects of God’s nature and character that would encourage Moses to have faith in God’s promises. Let’s explore the meaning behind this intriguing name.
The Meaning of “I AM”
“I AM WHO I AM” can be translated from the Hebrew as “I am that I am”, “I will be what I will be”, or “I cause to be what I cause to be.” At the most basic level, God is proclaiming his self-existence – he is uncreated, eternal, and self-sufficient. God depends on nothing outside of himself for his being or essence. The name “I AM” reinforces the truth that God alone is the self-existent one.
The phrase also implies God’s faithfulness and immutability. He is saying, “I am and will always be exactly who I have revealed myself to be.” Throughout human history, God will not change – he will be faithful to his promises and his character will remain consistent. This provided comfort and confidence to Moses and the Israelites that the God who was commissioning Moses would surely fulfill his promises.
Furthermore, “I AM” conveys God’s eternality. He exists outside of time, having no beginning or end. While humans live moment by moment, God simply IS – he transcends time altogether. The meaning implicit in “I AM” is that God will remain constant even when human circumstances are in flux.
In essence, “I AM WHO I AM” communicates that God is the infinite, eternal, self-existent One who is unchanging and beyond complete human comprehension. This name for God highlights his supreme power and position over and above all creation.
Connections to Other Biblical Names for God
The “I AM” in Exodus 3:14 is related to other names and descriptions of God throughout Scripture. For example:
- Yahweh – The most sacred name for God in the Old Testament. Scholars consider “I AM” in Exodus 3:14 to be a first-person form of “Yahweh.” Yahweh emphasizes God’s eternality, self-existence, and covenant faithfulness.
- Alpha and Omega – Referring to God as the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet (Revelation 1:8) depicts him as the eternal, omnipotent One who spans all time.
- “The One Who Is” – In Revelation 1:4, God is called “him who is and who was and who is to come.” This name again speaks to God’s self-existence and eternity.
- The Eternal “I Am” – In the Gospel of John, Jesus repeatedly uses “I am” statements that point back to the divine name in Exodus 3:14 (e.g., John 8:58, John 18:5-6). By applying “I am” to himself, Jesus is identifying himself with the eternal God.
The thread connecting these various names and descriptions is that the God who revealed himself to Moses at the burning bush is the same infinite, eternal, and unchanging God throughout the entirety Scripture.
The Significance of the Name for Moses
When God revealed the name “I AM WHO I AM” to Moses in Exodus 3:14, He was equipping Moses for the mission being entrusted to him. As Moses raised objections about his own inadequacy, God assured him that the very power of the eternal “I AM” would go with him (Exodus 3:11-12). The name conveys God’s complete sufficiency for the task at hand.
Specifically, the name “I AM” reminded Moses of several truths about God that would strengthen him for his leadership role:
- God has the supreme power to deliver the Israelites from bondage, for he is the Almighty “I AM.”
- God can be trusted to keep his promises, for he is ever-faithful and never changes.
- God will remain with Moses and with his people forever, since his existence is eternal.
- God has comprehensive knowledge of the present and future, unlike the limited perspective of humans.
In short, the name assured Moses that the infinite, all-powerful, and ever-present “I AM” would fulfill the mission. God knew Moses needed this confidence in his character to step out in faith as a leader. As God’s ambassadors, believers today can take comfort in the same aspects of God’s nature conveyed through this name.
The Name Indicates God’s Moral Right to Command
Another implication of “I AM WHO I AM” is that God has the absolute moral right to command his creatures. As the self-existent Creator and Sustainer of all things, God alone has the prerogative to declare what is good, right, and holy. He is the ultimate Law-giver.
The fact that God did not give an explanation for his actions or commands demonstrates his unique status over Moses and all people. No human has the right to question God about what he does. Rather, all moral accountability goes in the opposite direction – we will one day give an account to the eternal “I AM” (Hebrews 4:13).
Furthermore, God’s moral right to command was directly tied to the special relationship he established with Israel. God had promised to make them his own people and to dwell with them – and the holy, righteous God expected his people to reflect his character. So his moral authority went hand-in-hand with Israel’s ethical responsibility outlined in the Mosaic Law.
Foreshadowing the Incarnation
While the name “I AM WHO I AM” described God’s transcendence and eternal nature, there are also hints in Exodus 3:14 of God’s future plan to draw near to his people. The use of “I AM” to refer to the eternal God set the stage for Jesus’ later application of “I am” statements to himself as the incarnate Son.
Jesus identified himself with the divine name and nature by making declarations like:
- “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58).
- “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35).
- “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).
- “I am the door” (John 10:9).
- “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11).
- “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).
- “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).
Jesus applied the divine name “I AM” from Exodus 3:14 to himself, thereby identifying himself with God incarnate – the Word become flesh (John 1:14) – the fullest revelation of the eternal “I AM.” What began as a revelation of God’s transcendent being culminated in God taking on human form.
Implications for Us Today
The profound name of God revealed in Exodus 3:14 – “I AM WHO I AM” – has several implications for believers today:
- We worship an unfathomably powerful, eternal God who reigns over all. He alone is worthy of our greatest awe, love, and obedience.
- We can have confidence in God’s promises, for he is incapable of lie or unfaithfulness to his people. What he declares he will surely fulfill.
- No human authority exceeds that of the self-existent Creator who reveals himself through Scripture. We ultimately answer to God’s commands first.
- Jesus is God incarnate, worthy of all our worship and devotion. His “I am” statements reveal his oneness with the Father.
- Trying to completely understand the infinite “I AM” is impossible, but we can know Him truly through His Word and by the Spirit.
May the God who revealed himself as “I AM WHO I AM” to Moses continue to draw near to us today through Christ, until we see Him face to face in eternity.