I Am

Scriptures: 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.’” God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, 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, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.’ (Exodus 3:14-15)

One of the things that surprised me, and a pleasant surprise I might add, when I came to this country was to find how people are treated in the restaurant. Every time we go to a restaurant, the waiters or waitress always greet us with sayings like, “Welcome to ….. My name is …. And I will be your server today.”

Then, during the meal, they will surely stop by more than once to see how we are doing. If we dine with our children, they will talk to the children, sometimes even joke with them. Their purpose, of course, is to establish a close personal relationship and to provide a pleasant experience and memory that will bring us back again. Some of these waiters and waitresses still remember our kids. When my wife and I go dining in their restaurants without kids, they will still ask how our kids are doing.

This approach reminds me of God and how He approached Moses through whom He was going to deliver out of the bondage of slavery. From our passage today, we can see that the patterns are similar. God introduced Himself to Moses by starting with His name, a name He said will be remembered from generation to generation.

More than that, God wanted Moses to know that He was not just any god popping out of blue. He was closely related to Moses and his people. He was “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” (Exodus 3:15) This reminds me of a personal encounter I had with one of my cousins after more than a dozen years of separation. I met my cousin in Dallas, Texas, a place I did not expect to meet him for his family lived in Chicago.

I came to realize that he was my cousin because he was actively involved in the youth ministry in our church. But I wasn’t so sure. So I approached him by asking him a few questions about his family to make sure he was who I thought he was. After all his answers, I was sure he was my cousin. But he was confused because he still didn’t know who I was and how I was related. So I told him, “Your great-grandfather is my great-grandfather. Your mother and my father are cousins.” At this, he understood our relationship and was more than thrilled to see a cousin in a strange town where it’s least expected.

In the same way, God introduced Himself to Moses by both giving Moses His name and explaining to Moses His relationship with the Israelite people, a relationship that started long ago, from when their forefathers’ days. He has been their God. He cared for them. He loved them and desired the best for them.

Today, He is still the same God with the same love and compassion for all those children of His and for all those seeking Him. He still desires to establish a close and intimate personal relationship with each and every one of us. More than that, He has revealed Himself to us through the person of Jesus Christ. He has demonstrated His love and commitment to us through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus.

Bible says, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) Through all these, He wants to introduce Himself to us again. He wants to extend an invitation to that loving fellowship He has in mind for us. He wants us to know that, as hard and difficult our situations may be, we are not alone. He is with us. He watches over us and desires to deliver us out of our difficulties and into His riches!

Prayer Requests:
For those who are feeling being left out and alone

Prayer:
Our Father God, thank You for always keeping us in mind. Thank You for seeing us in our difficult times and for loving us as we are. Most of all, thank You for the gift of Jesus through whom we may be reconciled to You and become Your children. Help us to remember always You and this wonderful relationship You have initiated with us so we may live to share this great news with everyone around us. In the precious name of our Lord Jesus we pray, Amen!