“I am who I am.”
Today’s Bible Verse:
Exodus 3:14 ESV
God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
In this moment at the burning bush, Moses stands in awe of God’s self-revelation. When Moses asks for God’s name—a way to tell the Israelites about the One who is sending him—God responds with a name that defies comprehension: I AM WHO I AM. This divine name reveals God's eternal, self-sufficient nature. He exists beyond time, space, and human understanding. He is—always present, unchanging, and faithful.
For us, as Lutherans, this passage resonates with the comforting truth of God's unchanging nature. The same I AM who spoke to Moses in the wilderness is the same God who spoke through Christ on the cross. Jesus, the Son of God, echoed this name in the Gospel of John when He said, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35), “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12), and most powerfully, “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). These declarations show that the God of the Old Testament is the same as the Savior who redeems us.
The name I AM assures us that God is present in every moment of our lives. He doesn’t change with our circumstances or the passing of time. God’s name reminds us that He is sufficient when we feel inadequate like Moses did. When we face uncertainty, His name reassures us that He is steadfast. When we are burdened by sin, He promises to be our Savior.
In the Small Catechism, Martin Luther teaches that God is not distant or unknowable but near us as our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. The same I AM who called Moses calls us to trust Him fully. He is the God who sees, hears, and delivers His people. His name is a promise that He is all we need—yesterday, today, and forever.
Prayers
A Prayer for Today:
Heavenly Father, You are the great I AM, the One who was, who is, and will always be. Thank You for revealing Yourself to us through Your Word and Your Son, Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
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