And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you  (Exodus 3:14 KJV)

In a defining moment of biblical history, when God called Moses to liberate the Hebrews from Egyptian bondage, Moses sought to know God’s Name. God’s reply, “I AM THAT I AM,” revealed far more than a name; it unveiled His eternal essence and relational presence to humanity.

God proclaimed His Name as “I AM,” a declaration not confined by language but conveyed directly to Moses in Hebrew. This Name is rooted in the Hebrew verb “to be” (Hayah), showcased in Exodus 3:14 through various grammatical forms. Significantly, Exodus 3:15 presents “to be” as a proper name, symbolized by four Hebrew consonants (YHWH)—the tetragrammaton( 4 consonants).

God declares His name, “I AM that I AM.” This expression shifts when His people refer to Him, becoming “He is that I AM,” using varied forms of “to be” to underscore God’s eternal presence.

But here is the major question: What does “I AM” mean, especially in the context of God’s instructions to Moses? The key meaning from Exodus 3 is that God reassures Moses that His presence (“I AM”) will be with him and guarantees that His Word to free Israel will be fulfilled. So, God’s Name, “I AM” (Jehovah or Yahweh), reveals His character and attributes.

Several points to note here. First, His Name begins with existence—He is. Second, His existence is not bound by time or dependent on His creation; He is self-existing. Third, He is always there, in the past, present, or future (everlasting). Fourth, His presence guarantees that He will fulfill His Word.

Jesus’ self-identification as “I AM” in John 8:58 stirred immediate outrage among the Jews, who understood the gravity of His claim and sought to stone Him. This reaction underscores Jesus as the living embodiment of the “I AM” of the Old Testament.

For believers in Christ, the name Jesus represents not only the fulfillment of the “I AM”—God delivered Israel as Yahweh but delivers people today as Jesus. Jesus is Yahweh, or Jehovah fulfilled, and much more. Here’s a quick example: Call Yahweh, and no demons will move. But call “Jesus,” and hell will break loose!

Yet, God remains the “I AM that I AM,” the source of existence and the One who actualizes all things. Jesus’ declaration, “I am the resurrection,” exemplifies this. God is not only with us, bu He is WHAT we need: that miracle, healing, financial breakthrough, deliverance, etc. He is the “I AM.”

Meditate

An assignment for serious students of the Word: Is the Hebrew Name YHWH best represented as Yahweh or Jehovah in English?

Apply the Word

God’s identity as the “I AM that I AM” remains constant. What has evolved is His interaction with humanity, especially with Gentiles. He was deliverance for Moses and Israel; for Lazarus, Jesus was resurrection. What do you need from Him today? He is WHAT you need: rest in His Word.

Pray

Thank the Lord for being the same I AM that I AM.

Recommended

• Jesus: the Sum of All the Jehovah Names and Titles
• What Happened to the Name Jehovah?
• Jesus The I AM That I AM
• What is the Holy Spirit’s Name?
• What is a Devotional?
• View All Deshen Daily Devotionals

Free Mini E-book: From Spiritual Dryness to Flourishing