Meditations in Exodus
Exodus 3:13 reads, “And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?”
In Exodus 3:9-10 the Lord God expressed his call upon Moses to send Moses as His instrument of deliverance for His people Israel. In verse 11 Moses responded with an expression of humility and hopelessness concerning his ability to fulfill the Lord’s call – “And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” In answer, the Lord God responded with His promise to be with Moses and to enable Moses in fulfilling His call – “And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.”
Yet in Exodus 3:13 Moses presents another question unto the Lord God. This question did not concern Moses’ inability, but now concerned the Lord God’s nature and ability. Indeed, Moses indicated that the children of Israel would ask concerning the name and nature of this God of their fathers who had sent Moses unto them – “What is his name?” In verse 12 the Lord had promised to be with Moses and enable Him. So then, who is this Lord God who will be with His servants and His people – “What is his name?” In verse 10 the Lord had placed His call upon Moses to send Him unto His people. So then, who is this Lord God who calls and sends His servants unto His people to lead them and help them – “What is his name?” In verse 8 the Lord had pronounced His purpose to deliver His people from their affliction and to bless them with abundance. So then, who is this Lord God who will help and deliver His servants and His people in their affliction – “What is his name?” In verse 4 the Lord had proclaimed His personal recognition of His people’s sufferings and sorrows. So then, who is this Lord God who personally knows the sorrows of His servants and His people – “What is his name?” Yea, what is the name and the nature of this Lord God, the Lord our God?
Exodus 3:13 reads, “And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?”
In Exodus 3:9-10 the Lord God expressed his call upon Moses to send Moses as His instrument of deliverance for His people Israel. In verse 11 Moses responded with an expression of humility and hopelessness concerning his ability to fulfill the Lord’s call – “And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” In answer, the Lord God responded with His promise to be with Moses and to enable Moses in fulfilling His call – “And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.”
Yet in Exodus 3:13 Moses presents another question unto the Lord God. This question did not concern Moses’ inability, but now concerned the Lord God’s nature and ability. Indeed, Moses indicated that the children of Israel would ask concerning the name and nature of this God of their fathers who had sent Moses unto them – “What is his name?” In verse 12 the Lord had promised to be with Moses and enable Him. So then, who is this Lord God who will be with His servants and His people – “What is his name?” In verse 10 the Lord had placed His call upon Moses to send Him unto His people. So then, who is this Lord God who calls and sends His servants unto His people to lead them and help them – “What is his name?” In verse 8 the Lord had pronounced His purpose to deliver His people from their affliction and to bless them with abundance. So then, who is this Lord God who will help and deliver His servants and His people in their affliction – “What is his name?” In verse 4 the Lord had proclaimed His personal recognition of His people’s sufferings and sorrows. So then, who is this Lord God who personally knows the sorrows of His servants and His people – “What is his name?” Yea, what is the name and the nature of this Lord God, the Lord our God?
The Self-Existing One
In Exodus 3:14 the Lord God gave answer unto Moses – “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” The name that the Lord our God gave unto Moses to declare unto the children of Israel was the “I AM THAT I AM.” This name reveals the self-existing nature of the Lord our God. It reveals the “I-AMness” of our Lord God’s nature. It reveals that He exists by nature, that He exists simply because it is an essential characteristic of His nature to exist. No force outside His nature brought Him into existence, and no force outside His nature even in the smallest degree helps to maintain His existence. We have been brought into existence by the creating power of God. We continue to exist by the upholding power of God. Both our original existence and its ongoing continuance are maintained by a force outside us. Yet the Lord our God exists by the inner force of His own essential nature to exist. By His very nature, it is impossible for the Lord our God not to be. By His very nature, it is impossible for Him not to exist. HE IS on the ground that HE IS by His essential nature. Yet what does this mean in relation to our lives? It means that the Lord our God depends on no one else in order to care for His servants and His people. As such, it also means that no one can change His determined purpose and plan.
The Eternal One
As the self-existing Lord God, who exists by His essential nature, the Lord our God is eternal in His existence. As the Lord God, for whom it is impossible not to be, He has ever been and ever shall be. His existence is both “from everlasting” past and “to everlasting” future. Before the creation of the earth and of the universe, “even from everlasting to everlasting,” HE IS God. (Psalm 90:2) In everlasting past He ever was the “I AM THAT I AM.” In present time He is the “I AM THAT I AM.” In everlasting future He ever shall be the “I AM THAT I AM.” He existence as the Lord God, yea His very Godhood, ever was, is now, and ever shall be. Indeed, He inhabits the infinite extent of eternity in both the past and future directions. (Isaiah 57:15) So then, what does this mean in relation to our lives? It means that the Lord our God will ever be present for His servants and His people. As such, it also means that no one can remove Him from His place as our caring Lord God. Indeed, “the eternal God” is our refuge; and underneath us to uphold us are His “everlasting arms.” (Deuteronomy 33:27)
The Unchanging One
As the self-existing Lord God, who exists by His essential nature, the Lord our God is unchanging in His essence. As the Lord God, for whom it is impossible not to be essentially who HE IS, He has ever been, is now presently, and ever shall be who He ever was. All the creation changes and waxes old, yet the Lord our God shall ever endure. He is ever the same. (Psalm 102:26-27) His essential nature changes not. (Malachi 3:6) He is “the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17) In His essential nature, the Lord our God is “the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Hebrews 13:8) Yea, His essential nature remains the same in everlasting past, and in very present, and in everlasting future. So then, what does this mean in relation to our lives? It means that the Lord our God will ever be faithful for His servants and His people. As such, it also means that He will never go back on His character or His Word. As “the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth,” He “fainteth not, neither is weary.” (Isaiah 40:28) Everlastingly and infinitely great is His faithfulness! (Lamentations 3:23)
Posted in Meditations in Exodus, In Time of Trouble, Deliverance of Our Lord, The Eternal God, Faithfulness of Our Lord
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