The Upper Room Daily Devotional Nashville, Tennessee, United States “First Sunday in Lent" for Sunday, 22 February 2015 - Scripture: Exodus 3:1-14

The Upper Room Daily Devotional Nashville, Tennessee, United States “First Sunday in Lent" for Sunday, 22 February 2015 - Scripture: Exodus 3:1 (iv) Now Moshe was tending the sheep of Yitro his father-in-law, the priest of Midyan. Leading the flock to the far side of the desert, he came to the mountain of God, to Horev. 2 The angel of Adonai appeared to him in a fire blazing from the middle of a bush. He looked and saw that although the bush was flaming with fire, yet the bush was not being burned up. 3 Moshe said, “I’m going to go over and see this amazing sight and find out why the bush isn’t being burned up.” 4 When Adonai saw that he had gone over to see, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moshe! Moshe!” He answered, “Here I am.” 5 He said, “Don’t come any closer! Take your sandals off your feet, because the place where you are standing is holy ground. 6 I am the God of your father,” he continued, “the God of Avraham, the God of Yitz’chak and the God of Ya‘akov.” Moshe covered his face, because he was afraid to look at God. 7 Adonai said, “I have seen how my people are being oppressed in Egypt and heard their cry for release from their slavemasters, because I know their pain. 8 I have come down to rescue them from the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that country to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey, the place of the Kena‘ani, Hitti, Emori, P’rizi, Hivi and Y’vusi. 9 Yes, the cry of the people of Isra’el has come to me, and I have seen how terribly the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Therefore, now, come; and I will send you to Pharaoh; so that you can lead my people, the descendants of Isra’el, out of Egypt.”
11 Moshe said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and lead the people of Isra’el out of Egypt?” 12 He replied, “I will surely be with you. Your sign that I have sent you will be that when you have led the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”
13 Moshe said to God, “Look, when I appear before the people of Isra’el and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you’; and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what am I to tell them?” 14 God said to Moshe, “Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh [I am/will be what I am/will be],” and added, “Here is what to say to the people of Isra’el: ‘Ehyeh [I Am or I Will Be] has sent me to you.’”
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.’”[Exodus 3:14 (NIV)]
In the Hebrew Bible, names represent hopes, dreams, and the characteristics of persons. For example, Jacob, after wrestling with an angel was given a new name, Israel, which means “the one who struggled with God.” Knowing the name of a person can give insight into the origin, nature, and the dreams of the person and his or her family.
That’s why Moses asked God this question: What is your name? Knowing God’s name could tell us many things about God!
God said, “I am who I am!” In some translations, God said, “I shall be who I shall be.” Both translations are possible because the Hebrew grammar allows for both (“to be” or “to become”). When God says “I am who I am,” God is actually refusing to be defined by one word. God is saying, “I am free. I am not defined. I am the Creator, not the created.” When God said, “I shall be who I shall be,” God was saying, “I am the one who causes things to be.” I am the Creator of history.
Though we may desire to define God more narrowly, knowing that God is “I am who I am” can give us moreconfidence in God. God is free, undefined, and is present in all aspects of our lives.
The Author: Sungho Lee (California, USA)
Thought for the Day: How do my names for God limit my faith?
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for the gift of creation and the limitless gift of your presence with us. Amen.
Prayer focus: To be open to the mystery of God
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