I AM

“Because I said so.” I think all of us, as kids, promised never to use that phrase with our children. And yet we do, don’t we? Sometimes we have answered the ninety-seventh question,. Sometimes, we’ve answered the same question the sixtieth time. And sometimes, we’re just too tired for this conversation.

Yes, you have to go to school every day.

No, you can’t hit him even if you think he’s mean. Or stinky. Or just because he exists. No.

I hear the same tone in Exodus 3, only God is the parent here.

At the point when God calls Moses from the burning bush, he has had a little experience with the people he covenanted with through Abraham. He’s planning a fairly important event in the lives of the nation of Israel- arguably their defining moment. And Moses asks, “who do I say you are?” God might be a little tired of Moses and his shenanigans because God’s first answer sounds a little snippy. “I AM who I AM. Just tell them I AM sent you.”

According to many scholars, this simple phrase is actually difficult; it has had several translations throughout the centuries.
“I am what I am”
“I will be what I will be”
Or my favorite- “I will be-there however I will be-there.”

Undefinable, eternal, self-governed. Beyond the scope of our imagination and intelligence.

Yet present. No matter how tired he might be of our whining, or running away, or arguing. And, as we see in the epic story of his work in our world, faithful in his love and mercy.

God relents with Moses and the “I AM” statement is followed closely by the gift of the name Yahweh, which God says is the name he wants to be known by forever. Later in Exodus (34:6-7), God gives us more details about what it means to call Yahweh our God.

Yahweh, the Lord, a God merciful (he loves us with a mother’s love)
and gracious (we don’t have to deserve his love in order for him to love us anyway)
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love (sustained, covenantal oneness)
and faithfulness (complete reliability)
forgiving iniquity and rebellion and sin (complete forgiveness)
but who will by no means clear the guilty (those who do not turn toward God, away from sin).

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God! Let’s listen and be called to worship by the response of our hearts to this beautiful name given so long ago.