I Am Who I Am Series

I AM

Exodus 2:1-3:14

Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567

There is something about the name of Jesus that evokes both mystery and consolation. While we cannot and dare not define Christ solely through our imaginations, lest we create a god in our own image, we, as masterpieces of God’s grace, can come to know Him in a limited yet profound way. If this were not possible, how could we ever worship Him—not perfectly, but rightly? It is true that our feeble and sinful minds struggle to fully comprehend or relate to Him in whom there is no darkness at all. Yet, we must remember that God, in His grace and mercy, has chosen to reveal Himself to us through His holy word and His very own Spirit. Though there are days when, like Moses, we cry out for just a glimpse of who God is, there are many more days when the Comforter not only guides us into all truth but also intercedes for us with wordless groans. This sermon will explore the identity of Christ as “I AM,” so that what can be known will be revealed and understood by those who call Him by name.

God Has a Name – “I AM”

I often wonder if Joseph’s coat of many colors symbolized the tumultuous "Yo-Yo" of his life, filled with both blessings and tribulations. Despite being sold into slavery by his brothers (Genesis 37), Joseph rose to become the head of Potiphar’s household (Genesis 39). Although he was later falsely accused of attempted rape and imprisoned, he eventually ascended to be second in command of all Egypt (Genesis 41). Joseph’s story is marked by remarkable highs and lows. He managed to acquire all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh by selling the grain he had advised Pharaoh to store during the seven years of abundance (Genesis 41). Pharaoh even gave Joseph’s family the fertile plains of Goshen to raise their herds (Genesis 47). Yet, despite Joseph’s contributions, his descendants found themselves persecuted by the very people they had helped save. When a new Pharaoh, who did not know Joseph, came to power, he felt threatened by the increasingly numerous Israelites and enslaved and oppressed them with forced labor (Exodus 1). When this failed to curb their growth, Pharaoh ordered the Hebrew midwives to kill every newborn Hebrew boy. This harsh decree sets the stage for the birth and rise of Moses.

Much like Joseph, Moses experienced numerous ups and downs in his life. When Moses' mother, Jochebed, could no longer hide him, she placed him in a papyrus basket among the reeds along the Nile River (Exodus 2:1-3). His older sister, Miriam, watched from a distance. Pharaoh’s daughter discovered Moses and asked Miriam to find someone to nurse the baby. Miriam promptly brought Jochebed, their mother, who was miraculously paid to care for her own child (Exodus 2:4-7). Though Moses was raised as a grandson to Pharaoh and enjoyed Egypt's riches and finest education, he faced an identity crisis and refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter (Hebrews 11:24-25). At the age of 40, Moses saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew and, taking matters into his own hands, killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand (Exodus 2:11-12). The next day, when he saw two Hebrews fighting, he asked, “Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?” They retorted, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?” (Exodus 2:13-14). When Pharaoh learned of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled to Midian, where he tended sheep for 40 years.

One day, while Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, he led the sheep to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God (Exodus 3:1). There, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush (Exodus 3:2). Noticing that the bush was on fire but did not burn up, Moses approached it. From within the bush, God called to Moses, declaring, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (Exodus 3:6). God told Moses that He had seen the suffering of His people under Egyptian oppression and was sending Moses to bring them out of Egypt (Exodus 3:10). In response, Moses asked, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11). God reassured him, explaining that it wasn’t about who Moses was, but about who God is. God instructed Moses to tell the people, “I AM WHO I AM has sent me to you.” This name, “I AM,” signified God's eternal existence and His limitless nature. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8), sovereign over all things seen and unseen (Colossians 1:16). He is our portion (Lamentations 3:24); whom could we ever desire except the One who created us in His image out of love?