" I AM", (literally, I will be what I will be) is more than a proclamation of existence. It is the announcement that the God who created the universe will be or reveal himself in whatever way is needed. Unlike the pagan gods of Egypt and the surrounding nations, the God of the Hebrews did not create a world only to be constrained by its laws. He is not bound by events of the past neither nor should His children be enslaved by their history. Galatians 5:1 announces, "It is for freedom we have been set free."
Unfortunately, many churches attempt to restrict the LORD with a calendar asserting, "He does not work that way anymore." In doing so, they forget the God of Israel sets free because He is free. Only a God free to do and be and act as He pleased could truly promise captive people freedom. The liberty God offers to His people is itself a reflection of His own nature. I will be...indicative of a God operating without limitations. He is not bound by time and space, rivers or valleys, or the whims and manipulations of humans.
Having grown up as a prince of Egypt, the nation's gods would have been viewed as practically family. Moses knew about the deities, said to rule over the sun and the sky. He knew of the Canaanite gods Baal and Dagon. To name an ancient god or anything else for that matter is to limit it and exclude everything else. Ra was restricted to the sun and Hapi was confined to the Nile, but the God of Israel has always existed outside limits. As the Arameans would learn, our God is too great to be confined to mountains or valleys,
1 Kings 20.
Our creator is too big to be confined to one name. Knowing God has always required knowing what He has done and watching expectantly to see what He will do next. For this reason, calling on the LORD often involves embracing His attributes: the LORD...God Almighty (El Shadai), Who Heals (Rapha), Who Provides (Jireh) Who Sees ( El Roi)...
When God says I Am, He means, I can, I will, I have. That's Worth Remembering - From the new book "Exiting Egypt"
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