
I AM :: Used interchangeably with Yahweh/Jehovah by God
I AM is the way God chose to reveal himself to Moses and, therefore, to the children of Israel. Before this, God’s people had referred to Him as Elohim. But Elohim is more of a characteristic of God and not a name. So now, here we have God revealing His personal name.
KEY SCRIPTURE:
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.'” Exodus 3:14 NASB
God uses I AM and Yahweh interchangeably in this conversation with Moses.
Remember, God’s personal name is sacred to the Jewish people, so much so that the Hebrew scholars refused to speak or write it. Instead, they would often write the consonants for Yahweh, as YHWH, and use the word for Lord, Adonai, when speaking.
In Hebrew, the phrase I AM is Hāyâ [haw-yaw], meaning “to be, to exist.”
Throughout Scripture, we find God shows Himself to be exactly what His people need in their various circumstances. Even Jesus used I AM statements in the Gospels. You can study these during your Bible time this week:
John 6:36, 8:12, 10:7-11, 11:24-26, 14:2-6, 15:1-5
Also read: Revelation 1:8, 22:12-13
One of my favorite questions Jesus asks His disciples is, “Who do you say I am?”
(See: Matthew 16:15, Mark 8:29, and Luke 9:20)
For me, Jesus is my healer, comforter, and peace.
Who is Jesus for you? How has He shown up in your life?
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