YAHWEH – “I AM WHO I AM”

Note: The nature of God is beyond our figuring out.  We need help if we are going to begin to understand who God is and how we can relate to Him.  It takes God to know God.  This is why He gives us His many names that describe who He is.  The reason knowing the names of God will help us trust Him with our daily affairs and with our eternal destinies is that in Scripture, a person’s name often signifies his character or ability or mission — especially when God gives the name.  Over the next few Fridays, we will look at the different names of God in the scriptures. This week, we look at YAHWEH (I am/will be”).

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” – Exodus 3:14.

Moses’s encounter at the burning bush is a well-known biblical story. Standing on holy ground in the presence of God, Moses hears God’s deep concern about the suffering of his people in Egypt. The moment also marks the beginning of Moses’s call to lead the people of Israel. When God appeared to Moses and told him He was sending him back to Egypt to deliver His people, Moses was afraid and tried everything to get out of the assignment. The job seemed impossible to him, and he had no reason to think the Israelites would accept him as their deliverer. But Moses wouldn’t be going to Egypt alone; God promised to remain with him every step of the way. God told the concerned Moses, “ I Am Who I Am . Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you” (Exodus 3:14).

The name Yahweh is God’s name as revealed in the Bible. It refers to the one who was, who is, and who forever will be, and is used to identify God as the God of Israel. Its importance can be seen in the sheer frequency of its use: It occurs nearly 7,000 times in the Old Testament.

The name Yahweh is a perpetual testimony to His faithfulness to His promises. Thus, its usage conveys the thought that God is ever present with His people to save, help, deliver, redeem, bless, and keep. God is actively, personally revealing Himself as Lord through divine revelation: creation, human nature, events, and Jesus Christ Himself.

Understanding “I AM WHO I AM” is important for understanding the complexity of who God is. I AM WHO I AM is all-encompassing and self-sufficient. It is a name above names that reminds the believer that God is in control.

It can be easy in the struggles of everyday life to lose sight of the majesty and holiness of God, but meditating on the name He gave Himself, and all that it represents, can help put our time on earth into perspective. God is infinite, and He is sovereign over our lives. That is what Yahweh means.

Discussion Questions:

1. What does the name “Yahweh” reveal about God’s character?
2. How can we live in light of the truth that God is “I Am” who He is?