The Weekly Word Lent Series - A Devotion for the First Week of Lent
During the six weeks of Lent, we are offering a special devotional series on the theme of “I AM.” We invite you to set aside a few minutes each week to join us in exploring who God is and how and where He is present in our daily lives.
The Scripture for today is from Exodus 3:13-14:
Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” 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.”
During Old Testament times, the Israelites had such respect for God that they did not even dare utter His name. Even today, many Jews do not speak God’s name aloud except when reading the Bible or praying and even in writing refer to Him as G-d.
When Moses spoke with God at the burning bush and was given the directive to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, one of Moses’ first questions to God was, “But what is your name? What should we call you?”
At first glance, God’s answer seems cryptic and confusing. What does it mean that God calls Himself “I AM”? How is that a name? we might wonder.
But think about it: the phrase “I am” symbolizes stability and permanence. “I am” is all-encompassing and unchanging. “I am” spans yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Little is constant in our lives, especially in these days, weeks and months of the pandemic. The economy is fluctuating, the future is uncertain, our job stability is questionable, our good health is not guaranteed. We don’t know when life will get back to normal – or even if life will get back to normal. Uncertainty is our new normal.
And yet, even amid these most uncertain times, God is present, unwavering and constant. He is our I AM – our one true certainty amid uncertainty. He is our solid ground when our lives are quaking. He is our security when we are at our most insecure.
We can count on God’s presence even when everything else fails. Life does not offer any guarantees, but God guarantees He will be with us always.
Gracious God, thank You for being my great I AM – my ever-present protection and security when all else is uncertain. Thank You for being with me always and forever. Amen.