“Then Moses said to God, ‘If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you,” and they ask me, “What is his name?” what shall I say to them?’ 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.”’ God also said to Moses, ‘Say this to the people of Israel, “The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.”
This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.’”
Exodus 3:13-15
Moses asks for God’s name. And God’s response sets Him apart from the false gods of all other nations, declaring in these words that He is unlike the named gods of Egypt to whom Moses was exposed as he was raised in Pharaoh’s household. This God cannot be contained in a name. No name is able to convey His greatness. He will not be bound or categorized as one among many, just one among all these other named gods.
No, He is the I AM, the self-existing and self-sustaining One, He who has always been and always will be. Perfect and changeless and not impacted or shifted by outside sources or circumstances. Because He governs and determines all. “I AM WHO I AM” never changes, never falters. He is perfect and complete in wisdom, holiness, greatness, and majesty, and His glory fills all creation.
His name is wonderful and cannot be captured in human terms; He is far above our comprehension (Judges 13:18). He has revealed elements of Himself, His greatness, His character in names, but none can fully convey the fullness of the majestic I AM.
This is the God who is with you. This is the God who is drawing you to Himself. May our hearts be captivated today with the infinite greatness of the One who cannot be captured in a mere name. As we seek Him in humble sincerity, I pray His Spirit will pull back the curtain a bit, astounding us with wonder at a new glimpse of the glory of this great God who, for each of us who has chosen to trust in His Son for salvation, calls us His own.
“Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel
and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:
‘I am the first and I am the last;
besides me there is no god.
Who is like me? Let him proclaim it.
Let him declare and set it before me,
since I appointed an ancient people.
Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen.
Fear not, nor be afraid;
have I not told you from of old and declared it?
And you are my witnesses!
Is there a God besides me?
There is no Rock; I know not any.’”
Isaiah 44:6-8
“‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’”
Revelation 1:8
“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom he also created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.”
Hebrews 1:1-4
“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God…On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”
Revelation 19:11-13, 16
“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.’”
Isaiah 57:15
In Pleasant Places 