Who Is God?
Posted: Thursday, January 21, 2010
by Michael A. Verdicchio
CIG
How would you describe God? In this short article, I present a very concise but fathomless definition of God. I didn't make it up. In fact, it is God's own definition of Himself.
Trying to define God may seem a bit presumptuous at best. It could even be considered impossible if we are indeed talking about the Creator of the heavens and the earth. And of course, almost everyone has some sort of definition of who or what they believe God is.
For example, the Hebrew word, "Elohim," is always used when referring to God as the Creator. Perhaps the most familiar is the word, "Jehovah." It is used to reference God's relationship to His creations as well as His promises. Jehovah is also used numerous ways as a compound word to show a number of different aspects and attributes of God. For example, "Jehovah-Jireh" means, "The Lord will provide."
But few people are familiar with one definition of God. It is in fact a definition that God Himself used when He was asked to describe himself. His answer was, "I Am."
When God commissioned Moses to return to Egypt to deliver the Children of Israel, Moses told God that the people were going to ask him God's name. Living in Egypt with their many, many gods, Moses knew that they would ask, so he in turn asked God, "Who shall I say sent me?"
God's answer was astounding. He didn't tell Moses to tell them that the Creator of heaven and earth sent him. He didn't instruct Moses to tell them that the Lord who provides sent him. God told Moses, "I am that I am. Tell them, I am sent you."
Literally, "I am that I am," would mean, "I shall be that I shall be." Or, you could even translate it, "I will be what I will be." In other words, God is saying to Moses that whatever the Children of Israel need, then that is what God will be.
Do they need deliverance? God is deliverance. Do they need healing? God is healing. Do they need protection? God is protection. Do they need food? God, with His unlimited resources can supply whatever they need. That's why He told Moses to just tell them, I am sent you.
Have you ever considered the magnitude of God referring to Himself as, "I am?" It encompasses all of His resources as well as all aspects of His nature. It is also a very clear indication of His desire to supply whatever is needed. It literally covers every situation and every eventuality.
The Children of Israel living in Egypt were exposed to numerous Egyptian gods. But there was nothing to compare to, "I am." Whether it was, Re, Sekhmet, Shu, or dozens of other gods, none of them, individually or collectively, could even come close to matching up with "I am."
And, God certainly made good on that name in delivering the Children of Israel out of Egypt, didn't He? He displayed His awesome power. He provided for them. He healed them. He protected them. And, in impossible situations He came up with solutions no one would have ever dreamed of, like parting the Red Sea.
The good news is that God has not changed. He has not lost any of His power. He is still a God of unlimited resources. He still has a desire to protect and provide for His children. He is still, "I am."
In the New Testament, God is referred to over and over as our, "Father." Now, as a dad, I know all to well that my own abilities and resources are limited. But the resources and abilities of our heavenly Father are not limited. Never forget that your, "Father" is still, "I am!"
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