Moses is understandably reluctant. So God makes him a couple promises. First, God says "I will be with you." It was never God's intention for Moses to acccomplish this misison by his own resources. He was just going to be the agent. God would be the One with the power.
So God instruct Moses to tell the Hebrews that he is the "I AM" who made a promise to Abram and his son and his grandson.
For those of us who just finished reading John, we recognize how Jesus uses this same calling card "I AM".
What does this mean? First, I AM is about constancy. God says I AM always going to be what I AM. Second, I AM is about reliability. God says I AM whatever you need me to be. Third, I AM is about sufficiency. God says I AM the only God you need.
And then God makes a second promise. God says, "I am going to prove to you that I AM the God who made a promise to your ancestor by doing exactly what I promise. I will free the Hebrews and bring them to this mountain to worship - just as I promised."
And that is the other meaning of I AM - that God is the I AM who keeps promises.
Write
Think about your faith story: how have you experience God as the IAM - his constancy, his reliability, and his sufficiency? How has God kept his promises in your life?
Presently, where in your life - relationship or circumstances, you need God to be your I AM"? How do you need God to keep his promises to you?
Who do you know needs God to be their I AM?
Pray
What
is God saying to you today? What's Good News to you?
Talk to God about how your experience of his constancy, reliability and sufficiency. Thank God for the way he has kept promises with you.
Pray about your need for God to be your I AM presently. Ask God for the help you need, the reassureance of his presence, and the courage to trust him to keep his promises.
Pray for your friend who needs God to be their I AM. Ask God how you can come along their side to support them.
Pray for an experience of God's love, grace and mercy in the way he keeps his promises to you as the I AM, and the ways he helps you to be a promise keeper to others and God.