Exodus 3:14, 15  God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations. (NLT)

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I was born on a particular day of a particular month in a particular year. The actual date probably should not be put in print for the same reason I do not give my mother’s maiden name and my Social Security number. I don’t want anyone stealing my identity and creating all kinds of chaos.

However, it is important to note that I have a birthday, a day when I entered this world kicking, screaming, and in one more bad mood due to the harsh lights, loud noises, and sharp instruments. Also, it was cold.  

You also have a Born On date. Visit any cemetery, and you will find the other end of the story for untold numbers of men, women, and children. Our world is full of beginnings and endings. 

How did we get these beginnings and endings? God created them. He who knows no beginning and no end created a world full of them. God IS. He always has been. He always will be. He is the Eternally Present One. 

We do not look back to Genesis 1 and say that WAS God. No, that IS God at work. John 1:1-3 builds on this idea:

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.
‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬ (Emphasis added.)

When Moses saw the burning bush (3:2) and heard the voice of God (3:4), it was not an innovative, hip, and cool new god. Instead, it was God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth. He provided further clarification in verse 6:

“I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭3‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“I am,” God says, not “I was.” 

This means God will never be a Has Been. He is never out of date, out of style, out of relevance, or out of control. He Is in charge here. 

This means God is personal. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had unmistakable conversations and encounters with the Great I AM. He calls, sends, provides, and protects. As He was known and experienced by the Patriarchs, Moses, Samuel, David, Isaiah, and Jeremiah, so he wants to be known and experienced by every person in every generation. 

As you might imagine, this line of thinking can go on for quite a while. I have Big Thick Books in my library you can read with the kinds of details that will help you understand all of these ideas more clearly and sleep more soundly. We can study all of God’s names, all of his character traits, and all of his activity through history. 

The most important thing to know today is that he is as real in this moment as he was at the burning bush, the parting of the sea, the provision of water and manna in the wilderness, and the fall of Jericho’s walls. 

The One King David called My Shepherd is yours also. He is real. He is personal. He is present. 

We will pause here for now so that this morning missive doesn’t turn into another Big Thick Book. We can walk through this day with the confident smile of someone who knows The One and Only God in a deepening love relationship that provides meaning to the mundane and purpose among the profane.

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I will walk with God and remove my shoes as often as necessary (verse 5) as I experience more of who He Is.

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Our Father, You Are. Everything else is because You Are. Nothing would exist without your spoken words of creation. You are Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, and Friend. You know each of us by name. You have purpose for each of our lives. You are Wonderful! Amen.