Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Affirmation of Christ as Lord and God
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.” (V.15)
Names are important: they are windows
through which character or characteristic traits are revealed. In the ancient
world this was especially true, a name stood for a special attribute, a
characteristic - a personality. Egyptians, Greeks and all other ancient people
identified their Gods with names that spoke their powers. The divine name was
critically important as it was believed that the one who knew the name was able
to invoke the presence and power of that deity. However, the God of Israel had
not borne any name: He was simply called 'El' (the High) or 'Shaddai' (the
Mighty).
As Moses stood on Ho’reb , on that
fateful day, Moses knew that the Hebrew people would certainly ask for the Name
of the God that had commissioned him to the great task of delivering them from
slavery. The name that God uses to identify himself to his people through
Moses, as we read, is: 'I am that I am'. In Hebrew, this is represented as
'YHWH', an archaic third person singular imperfect of the verb "to
be", meaning 'He is' and interprets as a God self-existent, eternal,
immutable, incomprehensible, constant and ever faithful in fulfilling his
promises.
Indeed, Jesus put flesh on God's answer
to Moses's question. As the Spirit reveals the Son, so does the Son reveal the
Father. Jesus came down from heaven to show us what it means to bear His
Father's name. On three different occasions Jesus spoke the great and
awful Name that was spoken at the burning bush. On a murky night he calmed His
disciples saying," Be of good cheer, I am" John 6:20, another time to
the Jews who insisted He could not be Abraham, "Very truly I tell you,
before Abraham was born, I am ". John. 8: 58, and yet again, to a lone
sinful woman, "I am, I that speak to you" John 4: 26.
'The Word was made flesh and tabernacled among us and we beheld His glory as of
the Only Begotten of the Father'.
Throughout His ministry Jesus fulfilled
the meaning of the great and holy Name. As our protector, our Savior, He
ransomed us through His death on the cross. Ever faithful to His promises, He
delivered us from the slavery of Sin and darkness and made us heirs to the
kingdom of God. His Grace is sufficient unto eternity.
Prayer: O Most gracious God, help us to
see your greatness revealed in the world around us: instill in us
humility that we may implicitly trust in your abounding mercy. Amen
Thought for the day: Our protector is an awesome God,
constant and faithful to those who trust Him.
Laila Alex , Bethel M T C ,
Philadelphia