Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
Then the LORD said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 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.’” | Exodus 3:1–14
Every boy and every girl has a name. I have a name. You have a name.
If somebody asks, “Who are you?” you tell him your name. Your name tells who you are.
Your mother uses your name when she calls you, and when she talks to you, and when she talks about you. Your name means you. If your mother calls Tommy’s name, Mary does not have to answer. If your mother calls Mary’s name, Tommy does not have to answer.
God’s name tells us who God is.
But God has many names. Sometimes we call Him “Father in heaven.” Sometimes we say, “Mighty One.” When we pray, we sometimes say, “Dear Jesus,” or, “Dear Lord.”
The Bible tells us about one very wonderful name of God.
Long ago, God talked to a man named Moses. Moses wanted to help his people because they were in trouble in Egypt. But Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, was angry at Moses. He had to run away. Then, one day, when Moses was taking care of sheep, he saw a bush on fire. The bush burned and burned, but it did not burn up. Moses went to see why the bush didn’t burn up. And then God spoke to Moses out of the burning bush.
God told Moses to go to Egypt, to help His people. He said to Moses, “Go and bring My people out of Egypt.”
But Moses was afraid to go. He said, “What shall I tell them if they ask who sent me?”
God said to Moses, “Tell them I AM has sent you.” God said, “My name is I AM.”
Isn’t that a strange name for God?
It is a name that tells us wonderful truths about God. I AM means: “I never had a beginning; I have always been; I do not change; I will always be the same.” The name I AM tells us that God is eternal, that He is forever the same, and that He is faithful, never changing, always keeping His promises.
The most wonderful name of God is Jesus. It is a Name above all other names. The Bible says that some day every knee will bow at the Name of Jesus. That Name tells us He is our Savior.
God’s law tells us that we must use God’s names carefully. We must use His names only when we talk to Him, or when we talk about Him. God’s names are holy, because God is holy.
Something to talk about
- Why was Moses afraid to go and help God’s people?
- Why did God’s name help him not to be afraid?
- Why is Jesus’ Name the best name of all?
Memory Verse
Blessed be the name of God forever and ever. | Daniel 2:20