The Only I Am

“God called to him out of the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ He said, ‘Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground… I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God…

“‘Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.’ But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?’ He said, ‘But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.’

“Then Moses said, ‘If I come to the people of Israel and say, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you,” and they ask, “What is his name?” what shall I say to them?’  God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am… Say this to the people of Israel: “I am has sent me to you… The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.” This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.'” Exodus 3:4-6,10-15

Moses, drawn to the unusual and supernatural and hushed into reverent fear, cannot grasp the magnitude of the One who speaks. Alerted to holy ground, hearing the Almighty’s call, his doubts and very human concerns betray the gap bridged only by the patient and persistent Spirit who gives understanding. (Exodus 3:1-4; 1 Corinthians 2:14)

To define words, man looks for consensus of meaning, agreement in understanding, context, usage. But God stands apart, completely other, wholly self-existent, self-sufficient, and self-defined. His attributes and limitless power confound narrow intuition and compromised human consent. Man processes with limited intellect and responds in the flesh. The I AM is beyond our apprehension of His ubiquitous, omnipotent, eternal presence. Yet He came and comes, making Himself known in Jesus, the imprint of His glorious nature here on earth. We are left only to worship. (Hebrews 1:2-3)

Where have I limited God, made Him my chum, a superior ‘me,’ mentally reducing His divine magnificence? How do I casually diminish, by attitude or words, His lofty highness? With what reactions and behavior do I rebuff His holy authority? When will I bow in humble fear, contemplate, and praise this I AM?

“O worship the King all-glorious above,
O gratefully sing his power and his love:
our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days,
pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.

O tell of his might and sing of his grace,
whose robe is the light, whose canopy space.
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
and dark is his path on the wings of the storm.

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
in you do we trust, nor find you to fail.
Your ransomed creation, with glory ablaze,
in true adoration shall sing to your praise!” ~Robert Grant (1833)

Lord, may I exalt, trust, and yield to Your Highness anew.