ODJ: “I AM”

September 18, 2018 

READ: Exodus 3:1-15 

Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground (v.5).

While I was leading a Bible class for those who didn’t yet believe in Jesus, a participant asked, “How many gods are there in this world?” Hoping to give an answer, I googled for help. I believe there’s only one true God, but one person gave this clever answer: Seven billion gods. There are seven billion people in this world. And everyone has a personal god.

There are countless ‘gods’ that people worship today. While the ancient Greeks worshipped Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Apollo, Artemis, Diana and numerous other named deities, it’s just as common for people to worship ‘gods’ they don’t name, gods like financial comfort or fame.

It might be helpful to ask again, “What is the name of the God—or god—I’m worshipping?” That’s the question Moses asked when God appeared to him: who are you, Lord? “What is [your] name?” (Exodus 3:13). “God replied to Moses, ‘I am who I am. . . . 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’ ” (vv.14-15).

“I am” speaks of a God who has always been and who has no limitations, the One Supreme Being in the universe who isn’t dependent on something else for His existence. He’s the Creator and Sustainer of all that exists. He’s changeless in His being and character—He’ll never change who He is. He “is the same yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

Just as God told Moses, “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground” (Exodus 3:5), it’s vital for us to worship God in reverence. For wherever He is, that place is sacred. May we “bow low before his feet, for he is holy!” (Psalm 99:5).

—K.T. Sim

365-day plan: John 16:5-33