Exodus 3:13–15 “The One Who Says, “I Am Who I Am”

Exodus 3:13-15 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:

• Casting Crowns – Healer
• I AM – Mark Schultz
• All Sons & Daughters – Great Are You Lord

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

• “Moses and the Burning Bush” | Bible Lessons for Kids
• That’s My King by CeCe Winans performed by Southall Kids Ministry – Song for Kids
• King of the Jungle | Dance-A-Long with Lyrics | Kids Worship – Song for Kids
• “I AM A C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N” – BoomBox Kids – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth arelocated in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

When Moses hesitated and asked, “Who am I to go?” God answered him, “I will be with you.” Then Moses asked a different question: “Then who are You?”

At that time, both Moses and the Israelites likely thought of “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” as just one among many gods. This was understandable, given that Egypt—where they had lived for four hundred years—was a polytheistic society. Therefore, when Moses went to the Israelites and said, “The God of your ancestors has sent me to you” (v. 13), it was only natural for them to ask, “What is His name?” Moses asked God what he should say in response to that question.

In response to that question, God answers, “I Am Who I Am” (v. 14). This translates the Hebrew expression Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh. The Korean Revised Version translates it as “I am the one who exists by Myself.” English Bibles translate it as “I AM WHO I AM” or “I WILL BE WHO I WILL BE.” As seen in the variety of translations, the meaning of this expression is shrouded in mystery. Although countless scholarly papers have been written on this phrase, it still remains somewhat elusive and hard to grasp fully.

This phrase is not so much a name as it is a revelation of who God is. In response to Moses’ request to know His name, God essentially says, “I am not a being who can be named and defined.” A god that can be named and defined is, in fact, an idol. The God who called Abraham and called Moses is the Creator, One who transcends human understanding, descriptions, definitions, and limitations. A true God, by nature, must be beyond human comprehension.

This is why the Israelites used YHWH as a symbolic reference to God. In order to obey the commandment, “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God” (Exodus 20:7), they wrote YHWH but read it aloud as Adonai (the Hebrew word meaning “Lord”). When the vowels of Adonai are added to YHWH, it forms “Jehovah” (v. 15, YeHoWa). Today, most modern scholars agree that the proper pronunciation of YHWH is likely “Yahweh.”

God then tells Moses to say to the Israelites: “The Lord, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you” (v. 15).

Meditation:

Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh. This is the answer Moses received when he asked for God’s name. As we saw earlier, this was not a disclosure of God’s name but a declaration that God should not be named. God is not someone who can be defined or explained by human understanding. This also means that when we approach God, we must not approach Him with preconceived ideas or man-made frameworks. Any being that can be named and defined is not truly God. If God is living and real, then we must stand before Him, exposed and open, meeting Him only as He reveals Himself to us. That is why God told Moses to take off his sandals. It was a command to remove everything that covers or defines us—our pride, assumptions, and self-identities—and to stand before God just as we are.

This is one of the most significant revelations in the Old Testament. No religious genius could have invented such a profound truth. The living God revealed Himself to a particular individual at a specific moment in history, showing who He is and how He must be approached. Through this revelation, we recognize that the One who called Abraham and Moses is not an idol but the living God. This is the God who created the heavens and earth, came to us through Jesus Christ, raised Jesus from the dead, and will ultimately establish the new heavens and earth.

And so, today, we too take off our sandals and bow our heads before Him. We stand before the One who declares, “I Am Who I Am,” and we say, “Here I am.”

Prayer:

Lord, the One who declares, “I Am Who I Am,” here we are before You.
Almighty and ever-present God, You are everything, and we are nothing.
Seal our lips that boast as if we are something when we are nothing,
and help us to stand humbly in Your presence.
Be the true Master of our lives.
We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: God is not like anything or anyone we can fully describe or control. He simply is. He is the living God who meets us personally, not through labels or our own ideas, but as He reveals Himself. When we come to God, we must come with honesty, humility, and open hearts, just like Moses did when he took off his sandals.

• For Preschool-Elementary
  • If you met someone really important, how would you show respect? How did Moses show respect to God?
  • Why do you think God didn’t give Moses a regular name like “Bob” or “David”?
  • What can we do today to show God that we want to know Him and love Him?

• For Youth
  • God told Moses, “I Am Who I Am”—what does it mean to you that God cannot be fully explained or limited by our thoughts?
  • Why do you think God asked Moses to take off his sandals before speaking to Him? What are “sandals” we may need to take off before God?
  • When have you felt that you were standing on “holy ground”? What helped you sense God’s presence in that moment?