Who Is God?
Theme Scripture: Exodus 3:13-15
There are few questions more important than this one: Who is God?
People have wrestled with that question for generations. Some define God by what they have been taught. Others define Him by their circumstances, their experiences, or even their disappointments. But if we truly want to know who God is, we have to look beyond our own understanding and look at who God says He is.
In Exodus 3, Moses found himself standing before God with an assignment that seemed far bigger than he was.
God was sending Moses back to Egypt to lead His people out of bondage. Moses knew the Israelites would have questions, so he asked God what he should tell them when they asked who had sent him.
God's response was powerful:
"I AM WHO I AM."
God told Moses to tell the Israelites, "I AM has sent me to you."
God did not define Himself by Moses' circumstances. He did not define Himself by Pharaoh's power. He did not define Himself by Israel's captivity.
He simply said, I AM.
God Is Who He Says He Is
We live in a world where almost everything changes.
Circumstances change. Relationships change. Jobs change. Finances change. Our emotions can change from one day to the next.
God does not.
When God identifies Himself as "I AM," He reveals something fundamental about His nature. He is eternal. He is present. He is not dependent on anyone or anything else for His existence.
Before Moses arrived at the burning bush, God was God.
While Israel was suffering in Egypt, God was God.
When Moses questioned whether he was capable of doing what God had called him to do, God was still God.
And whatever you are facing today, God is still God.
Our circumstances do not determine His character.
We Have a Problem We Cannot Fix Ourselves
Understanding who God is also forces us to recognize something about ourselves.
Romans 3:23 tells us:
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Every one of us has fallen short.
It does not matter how successful we are, how good we believe ourselves to be, or how well we can hide our struggles from everyone around us. Sin separates us from the life God intended for us.
Romans 6:23 takes it even further:
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Sin has consequences, but the story does not end with our failure.
There is a gift.
There is grace.
There is Jesus.
The God who declares "I AM" is also the God who made a way for us to be restored to Him.
God Hears You
Sometimes knowing who God is becomes especially difficult when life hurts.
We pray, but nothing seems to change.
We struggle and wonder if God notices.
We hurt and wonder if God cares.
Psalm 34:17-18 reminds us:
"The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
God is not distant from your pain.
He hears.
He sees.
He is near.
That does not mean every situation will immediately turn out the way we want. It means we do not walk through those situations alone.
The same God who heard the cries of Israel in Egypt hears His people today.
God Brings Freedom
Jesus said in John 8:36:
"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
There are many kinds of bondage.
Some people are trapped by addiction. Others are trapped by anger, shame, fear, bitterness, regret, or the consequences of decisions they wish they could change.
Sometimes the prison is visible. Sometimes nobody else knows it exists.
But our bondage does not have the final word.
Jesus does.
Real freedom is not simply learning how to manage the chains. Through Christ, those chains can be broken.
Whatever has convinced you that you can never change, never heal, never recover, or never become the person God has called you to be does not have more authority than Jesus Christ.
If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed.
Greater Is He Who Is in You
Following God does not mean we will never face opposition.
Moses certainly did.
God called him to walk directly into a seemingly impossible situation. Pharaoh had power, Israel was enslaved, and Moses had plenty of reasons to believe he was the wrong person for the job.
But Moses was not being sent in his own strength.
Neither are we.
First John 4:4 reminds believers:
"The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."
When God calls us to something, our first reaction is often to evaluate our own ability.
Am I qualified enough?
Am I strong enough?
Do I know enough?
What if I fail?
But maybe we are asking the wrong questions.
The better question is: Who is sending me?
Moses had limitations, but Moses had been sent by the great I AM.
God Is a God of Restoration
Jeremiah 33:6 speaks of God bringing health, healing, peace, and restoration.
That is part of who God is.
He restores what sin destroys.
He brings hope into places that appear hopeless.
He can take people who believe their story is over and begin writing an entirely new chapter.
Restoration does not always mean returning everything to exactly the way it was before. Sometimes God does something new. Sometimes healing requires change. Sometimes moving forward means leaving something behind.
But we can trust the One leading us.
Our hope is not found in our ability to put all the broken pieces back together.
Our hope is found in God.
Jesus Said, "I Am"
The words God spoke to Moses in Exodus become even more significant when we look at the words of Jesus.
In John 8:57-58, Jesus told those questioning Him:
"Before Abraham was born, I am!"
Jesus did not say, "I was."
He said, "I am."
This connects directly to the name God revealed to Moses.
The God Moses encountered at the burning bush is not merely part of an ancient story. The great I AM stepped into human history in Jesus Christ.
The One who calls us is also the One who saves us.
The One who knows our failures is the One who offers forgiveness.
The One who sees our bondage is the One who offers freedom.
The One who sees our brokenness is the One who offers restoration.
What Has God Called You to Do?
Moses' encounter with God was not simply about learning God's name.
God revealed Himself to Moses because He was sending Moses somewhere.
That leaves us with an important question.
What has God called you to do for the Kingdom?
Maybe God is calling you to serve.
Maybe He is calling you to forgive someone.
Maybe He is calling you to walk away from something that has kept you in bondage.
Maybe He is calling you to step into something that scares you.
Maybe He is calling you to tell someone about Jesus.
Maybe He is simply calling you to trust Him again.
You may feel inadequate.
So did Moses.
You may have questions.
So did Moses.
You may wonder whether you are capable.
So did Moses.
The answer is not found in convincing ourselves that we are strong enough.
The answer begins with remembering who God is.
Who Is God?
He is the great I AM.
He is the God who hears.
He is the God who saves.
He is the God who frees.
He is the God who heals.
He is the God who restores.
He is the God who calls ordinary people to accomplish things far beyond themselves.
And He is still God when life does not make sense.
As you reflect on this message, ask yourself three questions:
How have you seen God work in your life?
What do you need God to do for you right now?
Like Moses, what has God called you to do for the Kingdom?
You may not have every answer today.
Moses didn't either.
But Moses learned something far more important than having every answer.
He learned who was going with him.
When you know who God is, you can begin to trust Him with where He is leading you.