THE GREAT I AM

 

When God spoke to Moses out of the burning bush, He identified himself as “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” and commanded him to deliver the children of Israel out of the Egyptian bondage (Exodus 3:6-10).

But Moses was not content to go to Israel telling them ‘the God of your fathers sent me’ so he asked God to identify himself by His name which he would take to the Israelites (v 13). God answered: “I am that I Am. Tell them I AM sent me” (v 14).

I AM is the name that identifies Jehovah. It is the equivalent of “Yahveh” or “Jahveh” now rendered “Jehovah” and signifies “The Self-existent One”, “The Eternal”, “The First and the Last”. So sacred was the name regarded by the Jews that their traditionalism forbade the utterance of it. (see James Talmage, “Jesus the Christ”, p 412)

Hence the Lord was not saying “I AM THAT I AM” but rather, “I am ‘that’ I AM”. I am Jehovah.

During His earthly ministry, the Saviour identified himself as seven main I AM’s as contained in the Gospel of John:

-          I am the bread of life (6:31,51)

-          I am the light of the world (8:12)

-          I am the door of the sheep (10:7,9)

-          I am the good shepherd (10:11,14)

-          I am the resurrection and life (11:25)

-          I am the way, the truth and the life (14:6)

-          I am the true vine (15:1,5)

As I look at these seven proclamations I could summarise them in this one scripture: “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

As we approach this Christmas season and yet again celebrate the Saviour’s birth, may we reflect on who He really is and more importantly, who He is to each of us individually. We should know that. May we think about everything we know of Him and what particular name of His means the most to us.

My favourite name for the Saviour is “The Great I Am” (D&C 39:1) and surely He is. There is no greater.

I marvel at His willingness

To descend from the regions of bliss

That was His heavenly home

To pay the ransom for my soul.

 

He is my greatest gift,

My love and my all,

I bow in reverence

before the foot of His throne.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Artist Unknown)