I AM: The Unchanging Presence and Relationship of God
Summary
In Exodus 3, God reveals His name to Moses at the burning bush: “I AM WHO I AM.” This name, Yahweh, is so sacred that for centuries God’s people would not even speak it aloud, striving to preserve its weight and reverence. Unlike words we often dilute in everyday conversation, this name carries undiminished significance, pointing to the very essence of who God is. When God declares “I AM,” He is not simply stating that He exists, but that He is utterly unique—preeminent, self-sufficient, and uncaused. He is the source of all things, existing outside of time and space, needing nothing and no one to sustain Him.
This declaration also reveals God’s immutability—He never changes. The God who spoke to Moses is the same God who created the world, who thundered on Sinai, who walked in Galilee, and who went to the cross. He is not a different God in the Old Testament than in the New; His character, holiness, and love remain constant throughout all generations. This unchanging nature is a profound assurance for us, especially when we face uncertainty or suffering.
Yet, God’s name is not just a statement of His transcendence. “I AM” is also a declaration of His presence and nearness. God tells Moses, “I have seen the affliction of my people… I have come down to deliver them.” He is not distant or detached; He is actively involved in the lives of His people, hearing their cries, knowing their suffering, and moving to redeem them. This is not a cold, philosophical truth but a living reality—God is with us, present in our joys and our burdens.
Most astonishingly, God’s revelation of His name is deeply personal. He promises, “I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God.” The hope of salvation is not merely rescue from suffering or a ticket to a better place, but restoration to relationship with the living God. The ultimate prize of heaven is not the absence of pain or the presence of pleasure, but the unbroken fellowship with Yahweh Himself. In Jesus, the “I AM” comes near, takes on flesh, and redeems us so that we might know Him—not just in eternity, but here and now.
To know God as “I AM” is to stand in awe, to trust in His faithfulness, and to draw near in confidence, knowing that the One who is beyond comprehension has chosen to make Himself known and present to us.
Key Takeaways
- The Name “I AM” Reveals God’s Absolute Self-Sufficiency
God’s declaration of “I AM” means He is utterly self-existent and needs nothing outside Himself. Unlike us, who depend on countless things for life and sustenance, God is the uncaused cause—He simply is. This truth humbles us, reminding us that all creation is contingent, but God alone is necessary and eternal. Our worship should be shaped by this awe-inspiring reality. [13:36]
- God’s Immutability: The Unchanging Nature of Yahweh
When God says “I AM,” He is not only stating His existence but also His unchangeableness. The God who spoke to Moses is the same God who acts in every generation; His character, promises, and purposes never shift. This anchors our faith, especially when everything else feels uncertain, because we can trust that God is always faithful and true to His word. [19:50]
- The Supremacy and Nearness of God
Yahweh is not only greater than all creation and every rival, but He is also present with His people. He sees, hears, knows, and acts on behalf of those who call on Him. The God who is beyond comprehension chooses to draw near, manifesting His presence in the midst of our affliction and need. This is a hope that sustains us in every circumstance. [22:23]
- Salvation Is Restoration to Relationship, Not Just Rescue
God’s ultimate purpose in redemption is not merely to save us from suffering or judgment, but to bring us into relationship with Himself. The hope of eternity is not just a perfect place, but unbroken fellowship with the living God. If our vision of salvation is anything less than knowing and being with God, we have missed the heart of the gospel. [30:18]
- The Mystery and Majesty of God Should Restore Our Awe
We must resist the temptation to reduce God to something manageable or familiar. The glory of Yahweh is that He is beyond our full understanding, yet He invites us to know Him personally. This tension—of reverence and intimacy—should lead us to deeper worship, humility, and trust, as we remember that the great “I AM” knows us and calls us His own. [35:43]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Diluting Words and the Weight of God’s Name
[04:30] - The Sacredness of Yahweh: YHWH
[07:15] - Moses and the Burning Bush
[10:43] - Encountering God’s Presence
[12:00] - The Meaning of “I AM”
[13:36] - The Aseity of God: Self-Existence
[15:02] - God’s Existence Beyond Time
[16:09] - God’s Unchangeableness (Immutability)
[19:50] - The Same God Through All Generations
[21:16] - God’s Supremacy and Manifest Presence
[22:23] - God’s Nearness in Affliction
[27:27] - The Personal and Covenantal God
[29:01] - Salvation: More Than Rescue
[32:00] - The True Hope of Heaven
[33:38] - The Wonder That God Knows Us
[35:43] - Restoring Awe and Reverence for God
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Name “I AM” (Yahweh) – Exodus 3
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### Bible Reading
Exodus 3:1–15 (ESV)
> 1 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.
> 2 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.
> 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.”
> 4 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.”
> 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”
> 6 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.
> 7 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,
> 8 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.
> 9 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.
> 10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
> 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
> 12 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.”
> 13 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?”
> 14 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.’”
> 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.”
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### Observation Questions
1. What was unusual about the bush that caught Moses’ attention, and how did God respond when Moses approached? ([10:43])
2. When Moses asked God for His name, what did God say, and why is this significant? ([12:00])
3. According to the passage, what does God say He has seen, heard, and come down to do for His people? ([22:23])
4. How does Moses react to God’s presence and the revelation of His name? ([19:50])
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### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean that God calls Himself “I AM WHO I AM”? How does this set Him apart from everything else in creation? ([13:36])
2. The sermon says God’s name reveals His unchanging nature. Why is it important for us to know that God is the same “yesterday, today, and forever”? ([19:50])
3. How does God’s declaration of “I have seen… I have heard… I have come down” show both His greatness and His nearness? ([22:23])
4. The sermon points out that salvation is not just rescue from suffering, but restoration to relationship with God. How does this change the way we think about what it means to be saved? ([30:18])
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon talked about how we often “dilute” the weight of important words, even God’s name, in our everyday language. Are there ways you’ve found yourself treating God’s name or presence too casually? What would it look like to restore a sense of awe and reverence in your daily life? ([01:10])
2. God’s self-sufficiency means He doesn’t need anything from us, yet He chooses to know and love us. How does this truth humble you, and how might it change the way you approach worship or prayer this week? ([13:36])
3. When life feels uncertain or difficult, how can remembering God’s unchanging character give you hope or stability? Can you share a time when this truth anchored you? ([19:50])
4. God is both supreme over all creation and present in our suffering. Is there a current struggle or burden where you need to trust that God sees, hears, and is with you? How can the group pray for you in this? ([22:23])
5. The sermon said the ultimate hope of salvation is not just a better place, but unbroken fellowship with God Himself. How does this challenge or reshape your view of heaven and what you long for most? ([30:18])
6. The pastor warned against reducing God to something “manageable” or just a religious routine. Are there areas in your life where you’ve tried to fit God into your own expectations or comfort zone? What would it look like to let God be “I AM” in those areas? ([35:43])
7. God’s personal promise is “I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God.” How can you intentionally draw near to God this week, not just for what He can do for you, but simply to know Him more? ([27:27])
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Close in prayer, asking God to help the group know Him as “I AM”—in awe, in trust, and in personal relationship.
Devotional
Day 1: God’s Name Reveals His Preeminence and Self-Existence
When God revealed His name to Moses as “I AM WHO I AM,” He declared His absolute preeminence and self-existence. Unlike anything or anyone else, God is uncaused, has no beginning or end, and is utterly self-sufficient. He does not depend on anything in creation for His existence; rather, everything else depends on Him. This truth is both humbling and awe-inspiring, reminding us that God is beyond our comprehension, existing outside of time and space, and yet He chooses to make Himself known to us. [12:00]
Exodus 3:13-15 (ESV)
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.’” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.”
Reflection:
What is one area of your life where you have tried to make God fit into your own understanding or expectations? How can you let the truth of His preeminence and self-existence reshape your awe and trust in Him today?
Day 2: God Is Unchanging—The Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever
God’s declaration of “I AM” is not just about His existence, but also about His immutability—He never changes. The God who spoke to Moses at the burning bush is the same God who walked with Adam, thundered on Sinai, calmed the storm in Galilee, and took on flesh in Jesus. His character, promises, and purposes remain constant through all generations. This unchanging nature is a source of assurance and stability for us, especially in a world that is always shifting. [19:50]
Malachi 3:6 (ESV)
“For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.”
Reflection:
Where in your life do you feel uncertain or unstable? How does knowing that God is unchanging give you confidence and hope in the midst of those circumstances?
Day 3: God Is Present and Knows Our Suffering
God’s name is not only a statement of His greatness, but also of His nearness. He sees, hears, and knows the afflictions of His people, and He comes down to deliver and be with them. God’s presence is not distant or abstract; it is real, active, and compassionate. Even in the darkest moments, God is with us, attentive to our cries and working for our deliverance. [22:23]
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, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.”
Reflection:
Think of a current struggle or burden you are carrying. How can you invite God’s presence into that specific situation and trust that He truly sees, hears, and knows what you are facing?
Day 4: God Is Personal—He Desires Relationship with Us
The name Yahweh is God’s covenantal name, revealing that He is not just a distant deity but a personal God who desires relationship with His people. He promises, “I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God.” God knows each of us intimately, not as numbers or faceless masses, but as beloved individuals. He draws near, keeps His promises, and invites us to know Him and be known by Him. [27:27]
Exodus 6:6-7 (ESV)
Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.’
Reflection:
How does it change your view of God to know that He wants a personal relationship with you? What is one way you can respond to His invitation to draw near to Him today?
Day 5: The Ultimate Hope—God Restores Us to Himself
The greatest hope of the gospel is not just rescue from suffering or a promise of a better place, but restoration to relationship with God Himself. Jesus, the I AM, came down, took on flesh, and died to redeem us so that we might know Him and be with Him forever. Heaven is not about our own pleasure or comfort, but about being with God, the true prize and joy of eternity. This is the hope that sustains us now and forever: that God knows us, loves us, and draws us near to Himself. [30:18]
John 17:3 (ESV)
“And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
Reflection:
What is your greatest hope for eternity? How can you shift your focus from what you want from God to simply wanting God Himself, both now and forever?
Quotes
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