You know siblings
What is interesting about Today’s Holy Nougat, is that together they offer another perspective of God as YHWH. It might not seem significant to some of us, but bear with means we reflect. They offer a message of hope and God’s love for us, calling us to respond confidently, not fearfully.
Genesis 15:7 NIV
[7] He also said to him, “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.”
Exodus 3:14 NIV
[14] God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ”
IAM the Lord …
Having had my eyes open for Y’shua’s IAM Statements throughout the Gospels, not only in John (though I haven’t noticed any as yet), this pattern struck me the moment I saw it in Genesis. It caught my attention primarily because God self-revealed as YHWH in Exodus 3. There, YHWH and Moses had an interesting conversation. YHWH was calling Moses out of exile to take Jacob’s descendants back to the Land of Promise after 400+ years of living as strangers in another land.
Because Moses’ exile was born of fear that he would be punished for murder and treason (that was the real challenge); Moses was a bit unwilling to obey. He offered God all the obstacles he could think of. None worked. God refuted them all. In resignation, perhaps defeat, Moses asked God for God’s name.
Self-Check
Have you ever tried to delay God’s call on your life? What tactics did you use? Did they work? I’ve used a few – none worked.
Deeper Dive
As with Job and friends, God spoke definitively when Moses ended his ‘rant’. God stated simply, profoundly, ‘tell them IAM sent you.’ The directive followed God’s self-revelation as ‘I AM WHO I AM‘ (see Genesis 3:13-14). Assuming that this was the first self-revelatory mention, I’ve always interpreted this to be I am who I am (not to be confused with Tina Turner’s hit, although the sentiment is somewhat similar – God’s identity needs no excuses), that is, God is Whomever God is. And that is valid.
But, if read with the Law of First Mention in mind, then it could be read as YHWH actually setting the Law of First Mention in motion. As in, YHWH told Moses, I truly am Abram’s IAM. For though YHWH was used in Genesis 2 (or so it is argued, some texts insist on Elohim); our Nougat suggests that YHWH self- revealed to Abram as IAM, even before Abram’s name was changed!
In that revelatory moment, YHWH was clear: in taking Abram out of Chaldea, God would take Abram to the Land of Promise, a land hitherto unknown to Abram. A land that would also be passed on to Abram’s descendants.
Siblings, this isn’t about the current land dispute. Because Ishmael was born after that promise was made. But, in the moment when Moses heard that he spake with That I AM, Moses’ doubts, fears, and arguments would have been put to rest. Why? Because it was evident that God chose him, Moses to fulfill God’s promise to Abram and Abraham’s grandson, Jacob.
‘Jacob?’, you ask. Yes Jacob features very critically in this conversation, for He also had a profound encounter with God (see Genesis 32). One that marked him permanently. After Jacob’s fight with God at the River Jabbok, he not only retained a limp, but he had the assurance that he was the heir to God’s Land of Promise. He insisted that his bones should not remain in Egypt, but were to be returned to his inherited home. That was part of Moses’ task. God’s call said it was time for prophecy to be fulfilled.
Moses had no doubt therefore, about the heritage he was being entrusted with. He also had more than enough proof of YHWH’s identity as IAM. For he knew YHWH had been Abram’s Shield in every battle. He would have remembered all Jacob’s adventures, and that God’s hand was on Jacob each step of the way, protecting, guiding, and sustaining him.
– Who do we know and need God to be in our life today?
– Can we recall God’s promise to sustain and deliver?
– More importantly, what is God calling us to be today?
– Do we dare to offer paltry excuses out of fear, knowing that IAM is the One Who calls us and sends us forth?
– What shall we do?
Let’s go forth in confidence, assured that IAM is with us.
The Law of First Mention suggests that the context used for the first reference of a person, issue or thing influences future reference to the same.
Point to Ponder
How does knowing YHWH means ‘I AM’ influence our obedience? Does YHWH’s promise to Abram assure us that God is with us always?
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May all we seek be found in Christ
