|
Bible Study -
Bible Study
|
|
Contributed by Phil Spadaro
|
|
Saturday, 27 January 2007 |
|
Page 1 of 2  Exodus 3:14 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.' “[*or,” I will be what I will be”]
In five simple, short
words, God Almighty declares His identity. A fearful and diffident
Moses wants to be sure he has knows who he is representing. “Who are
you Lord?” This is a valid and good question, asked many times over the
years. Some people refer to this question as theology and go to great
length to answer it. God did no such thing. He answered, but simply and
powerfully. God declares to Moses; Yahweh (I am who I am) – that is who
you represent. Yahweh concentrates the uniqueness of the Lord and His
unchanging character into one title.
God is Unique Perhaps Moses was looking for a comparison or a name with which he was familiar. Maybe he needed a starting point for his theology. God would not and could not give him anything familiar, because the God of Exodus 3 and the bible are unique. The name, “Yahweh”, indicates His incomparable nature; no other being exists to which a comparison can be made.
Other pantheons and deities find similarities with one another. One god is borrowed from another mythos or a common thread (i.e. agriculture) gives rise to divines persons from the same mold. There is a starting point for comparison and tracing the genesis and evolution of each god. Not so with the Lord.
God did not give Moses the starting point of Egyptian theology and work from there. God did not tell Moses “I am like _____.” God wanted Moses to see Him fresh, new and unfettered from whatever he new before. The Lord expects us to approach Him in the same manner today; without preconception.
The uniqueness of God is an awesome quality. There are some who mistakenly pit Satan against the Lord as equals in their mind. This is not an equitable comparison. Revelation 12:7-9 tells us the Devil is a fallen angel, not a deity and is therefore limited. No one can claim to be like God, except God.
|
|
Last Updated ( Thursday, 01 February 2007 )
|