Encountering God: Identity, Compassion, and His Name

 

Summary

In this session, we delve into the profound encounter between Moses and God at the burning bush, as recorded in the book of Exodus. This event reveals significant aspects of God's character and His relationship with humanity. God declares to Moses that He has seen the oppression of His people in Egypt, heard their cries, and knows their sorrows. This demonstrates that God is neither blind nor deaf to the suffering of His people. He is a God who sees, hears, and knows, and He is moved to act on behalf of His people.

Moses, upon receiving God's mandate to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, questions his own identity, asking, "Who am I?" This reflects a common human struggle with self-identity, especially when faced with divine calling. The answer to this question, as Calvin suggests, is found in understanding who God is. When we truly see God in His holiness, as Isaiah did, we gain a clearer understanding of ourselves. Moses' encounter with God leads him to ask a more profound question: "Who are you?" This question is pivotal, as it shifts the focus from self to the divine.

God's response to Moses, "I am who I am," reveals His personal and relational nature. Unlike the impersonal and amoral forces often worshiped in contemporary culture, God is a personal being who engages with His creation. This name, Yahweh, signifies a God who is present, active, and involved in the lives of His people. It challenges the modern notion of a higher power that is detached and indifferent. Instead, God is a personal redeemer who desires a relationship with His people.

The significance of God's name is further illustrated through a personal anecdote about love and identity. Just as a person's name encapsulates their unique identity and relationship with others, God's name reveals His character and His covenant relationship with His people. Understanding God's name and character is crucial for Christians today, as it grounds our faith and shapes our understanding of who we are in relation to Him.

Key Takeaways:

1. God's Awareness and Compassion: God is not distant or indifferent to human suffering. He sees, hears, and knows the struggles of His people, and He is moved to act on their behalf. This awareness and compassion are central to His character and His relationship with humanity. [01:12]

2. Identity Through Divine Encounter: Moses' question, "Who am I?" highlights the human struggle with identity, especially when faced with divine calling. True self-understanding comes from knowing God, as illustrated by Calvin's insight and Isaiah's encounter with God's holiness. [03:43]

3. The Personal Nature of God: God's response to Moses, "I am who I am," reveals His personal and relational nature. Unlike impersonal forces, God is actively involved in the lives of His people, offering a personal relationship and redemption. [18:44]

4. The Importance of Knowing God: The greatest need for Christians today is to truly know who God is. This knowledge shapes our faith and understanding of ourselves, countering the cultural tendency to view God as a vague, impersonal force. [08:34]

5. The Significance of God's Name: God's name, Yahweh, encapsulates His character and covenant relationship with His people. Just as a person's name reflects their identity and relationships, God's name reveals His excellency and the perfections of His character. [22:12]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:35] - God's Awareness of Oppression
- [01:12] - God Sees, Hears, and Knows
- [02:00] - Moses' Question of Identity
- [03:13] - Calvin's Insight on Knowing God
- [04:21] - Isaiah's Encounter with Holiness
- [05:43] - God's Assurance to Moses
- [06:22] - Moses' Question: Who Are You?
- [07:12] - The Mission of Ligonier Ministries
- [08:34] - The Church's Need to Know God
- [09:00] - Concealing God's Character
- [10:15] - The Question of God's Name
- [11:14] - Cultural Perceptions of God
- [12:54] - The Impersonal Higher Power
- [14:11] - The Downside of an Amoral Force
- [16:09] - God's Personal Nature Revealed
- [17:33] - The Name of God: I Am Who I Am
- [19:06] - God's Relational Character
- [20:02] - The Significance of Names
- [22:12] - Yahweh: The Essence of God

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Exodus 3:1-15
2. Isaiah 6:1-5

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Observation Questions:

1. What are the three verbs used in Exodus 3:7 that describe God's awareness of the Israelites' suffering, and what do they reveal about His character? [01:12]

2. How does Moses initially respond to God's call to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, and what does this reveal about his self-perception? [02:38]

3. In Isaiah 6:1-5, how does Isaiah's vision of God affect his understanding of himself? How does this relate to Moses' encounter with God? [04:21]

4. What is the significance of God revealing His name as "I am who I am" to Moses, and how does this differ from the cultural perception of a higher power? [18:44]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does God's awareness of the Israelites' suffering in Exodus 3:7-8 demonstrate His compassion and willingness to act? What does this tell us about His relationship with humanity? [01:12]

2. Moses asks, "Who am I?" when called by God. How does this question reflect a common human struggle with identity, especially in the context of divine calling? [02:38]

3. In what ways does Isaiah's encounter with God's holiness in Isaiah 6:1-5 provide insight into the importance of understanding God's character before understanding ourselves? [04:21]

4. How does the name "Yahweh" challenge the modern notion of an impersonal higher power, and what implications does this have for our understanding of God's nature? [18:44]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt God was aware of your struggles. How did that awareness impact your faith and actions? [01:12]

2. Moses questioned his identity when faced with God's calling. Have you ever experienced a similar struggle? How did you find clarity in your identity? [02:38]

3. Isaiah's vision of God led to a deeper understanding of himself. How can you seek a clearer vision of God in your daily life to better understand your own identity? [04:21]

4. The name "Yahweh" signifies a personal and relational God. How can you cultivate a more personal relationship with God in your daily routine? [18:44]

5. Consider the cultural perception of God as an impersonal force. How can you counter this view in your conversations with others about faith? [12:54]

6. God's name reveals His character and covenant relationship with His people. How does knowing God's character influence your relationship with Him and others? [22:12]

7. Reflect on the importance of knowing who God is. How can this knowledge shape your faith and actions in the coming week? [08:34]

Devotional

Day 1: God's Compassionate Awareness
God is not distant or indifferent to human suffering. He sees, hears, and knows the struggles of His people, and He is moved to act on their behalf. This awareness and compassion are central to His character and His relationship with humanity. In the story of Moses and the burning bush, God reveals His deep concern for the Israelites' oppression in Egypt. He assures Moses that He has seen their affliction, heard their cries, and knows their sorrows. This divine empathy is a powerful reminder that God is intimately involved in the lives of His people, and He is committed to their deliverance. [01:12]

Exodus 3:7-8 (ESV): "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.'"

Reflection: Think of a time when you felt unseen or unheard in your struggles. How can you invite God into that memory and trust in His compassionate awareness today?


Day 2: Identity Through Divine Encounter
Moses' question, "Who am I?" highlights the human struggle with identity, especially when faced with divine calling. True self-understanding comes from knowing God, as illustrated by Calvin's insight and Isaiah's encounter with God's holiness. When Moses encounters God at the burning bush, he is confronted with his own inadequacies and doubts. However, it is through this divine encounter that Moses begins to understand his true identity and purpose. By shifting the focus from himself to God, Moses learns that his identity is rooted in the One who calls him. This transformative realization is a powerful reminder that our true identity is found in our relationship with God. [03:43]

Isaiah 6:5-8 (ESV): "And I said: 'Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!' Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: 'Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.' And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, 'Here I am! Send me.'"

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle with identity? How can you seek a deeper understanding of God to gain clarity about who you are?


Day 3: The Personal Nature of God
God's response to Moses, "I am who I am," reveals His personal and relational nature. Unlike impersonal forces, God is actively involved in the lives of His people, offering a personal relationship and redemption. This declaration of His name, Yahweh, signifies a God who is present, active, and engaged with His creation. It challenges the modern notion of a higher power that is detached and indifferent. Instead, God is a personal redeemer who desires a relationship with His people. This understanding of God's nature invites us to experience His presence in our daily lives and to cultivate a deeper relationship with Him. [18:44]

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'"

Reflection: How can you cultivate a more personal relationship with God today? What steps can you take to experience His presence more fully in your life?


Day 4: The Importance of Knowing God
The greatest need for Christians today is to truly know who God is. This knowledge shapes our faith and understanding of ourselves, countering the cultural tendency to view God as a vague, impersonal force. By understanding God's character and His covenant relationship with His people, we are grounded in our faith and equipped to navigate the challenges of life. This knowledge is not merely intellectual but transformative, as it shapes our identity and purpose. As we grow in our understanding of God, we are empowered to live out our faith with confidence and conviction. [08:34]

Hosea 6:3 (ESV): "Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth."

Reflection: What specific steps can you take this week to deepen your knowledge of God? How might this knowledge transform your daily life and interactions with others?


Day 5: The Significance of God's Name
God's name, Yahweh, encapsulates His character and covenant relationship with His people. Just as a person's name reflects their identity and relationships, God's name reveals His excellency and the perfections of His character. Understanding the significance of God's name is crucial for Christians, as it grounds our faith and shapes our understanding of who we are in relation to Him. This knowledge invites us to live in a way that honors His name and reflects His character to the world. By embracing the significance of God's name, we are called to live as His representatives, embodying His love, justice, and righteousness. [22:12]

Psalm 9:10 (ESV): "And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you."

Reflection: How does understanding the significance of God's name influence your relationship with Him? In what ways can you reflect His character in your interactions with others today?

Quotes


Beginning there later on in the chapter after God had spoken to Moses and said, "I have seen the oppression of my people who are in Egypt, and I have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. For I know their sorrows." Now there are three verbs here that I want to get ahold of that tells us something about God. [00:00:41]

At first, it says, "I have seen -- I have surely seen the oppression of my people." So God sees what's going on. The second thing he says is, "I have heard their cry." So we know that the God who is revealed here is not blind, nor is he deaf. Nor is he ignorant because he goes on to say, "I know of the sorrows that they have borne." [00:01:13]

Calvin begins the Institutes by saying, "We never know who we are until we first know who God is." Again, remember in Isaiah 6, after Isaiah saw God high and holy, lifted up, and he heard the angelic chorus of the three times "Holy," what was his response? He pronounced a curse upon himself saying, "Woe is me for I am a man of unclean lips. [00:03:43]

Because, for the first time in his life, dear ones, Isaiah found out who God was. At the same time, for the first time in his life, he found out who Isaiah was. And that's what Calvin is getting at. He said, "If we just look at ourselves and then judge ourselves among other people around us and compare ourselves with each other, pretty soon we'll have such an inflated view of our own greatness that we will address ourselves as only slightly less than demigods." [00:04:30]

So Moses has this momentary encounter with the Holy, and the closer he gets, the more afraid he becomes. When he hears the voice of God, and the voice of God sends him on a mission, "Wait a minute. Who am I that I should go on this mission?" So God said, "I will certainly be with you." He doesn't really answer Moses' question as to who Moses is. [00:05:43]

He just said, "Don't worry about who you are, because I'm going to be with you." "And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain." Now we get to the crux of the matter. Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His name?'" [00:06:22]

I said, "I know everybody in the world knows that God is, because God has so clearly manifested himself to all of them in creation that men are left without excuse because his general revelation has pierced their minds. They know he exists. They hate him." I said, "In a large measure, that's because they know he is, but they don't have any idea who he is." [00:07:56]

The fellow said, "Fine, but what do you think is the most important thing that Christians need to know in this day and age?" I said, "That's easy." He said, "What?" I said, "Christians need to find out who God is." I think the greatest weakness of the church in our day is the virtual eclipse of the character of God, even in our churches. [00:08:34]

She said, "You know, I get the feeling -- I go to church every Sunday, and get the feeling that our minister is doing everything he can to conceal from us the character of God. Because, he knows if he really opened up the Scriptures and proclaimed the character of God as he is portrayed in the Bible, he's afraid the people would leave the church, because they're uncomfortable in the presence of the Holy." [00:09:11]

One thing about this nebulous, amorphous, nameless, characterless power is that first of all, it is impersonal and second of all, and most important, it is amoral. You see, there's an upside and a downside to worshiping a higher power -- a nameless, faceless force. Like gravity or cosmic dust, or lightening or thunder. Here's the upside to a sinner. [00:13:32]

A force that is impersonal and amoral makes no ethical demands on anybody. Gravity does not make judgement about people's behavior unless they jump out of windows six stories high. But even at that, there is no personal condemnation that comes from gravity or an earthquake. Gravity has no voice. It says nothing. It sees nothing. And it knows nothing. [00:14:28]

And the very first thing that God reveals about himself in that name is that he's personal. That he can see. He can hear. He can know. He can speak. He can relate to those creatures he made in his own image. He is the God who brought up his people out of the land of Egypt. He is a God with a name, a God with a history. [00:18:48]

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Transcript
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