The Name of God and Voice of Christ
Thursday Devotional Thought
Exodus 3:14
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.’”
God had made Himself known as El Shadday, that is, God Almighty, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Ex 6:3). His name, YHVH, the LORD, had only been revealed for the first time here, before Moses at the burning bush.
Jesus of Nazareth was the great I AM sent to the people of Israel to free them from their bondage to sin, just as Moses foreshadowed Israel’s Messiah as the deliverer who would lead Israel out of their bondage in Egypt. Jesus said,
“I am the Bread of Life.” John 6:35
“I am the Light of the world.” John 8:12
“I am the Door of the sheep.” John 10:7
“I am the Good Shepherd.” John 10:11
“I am the Resurrection and the Life.” John 11:25
“I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life.” John 14:6
“I am the True Vine.” John 15:1
Moreover, Jesus claimed to be eternally existent, using the name of the LORD from the burning bush when He said,
“Before Abraham was, I AM.” John 8:58
The Jews understood what Jesus was saying because they picked up stones to put Him to death for this statement (John 8:59).
Here, in the Midian back desert, Moses heard the name of God uttered by the pre-incarnate voice of Jesus of Nazareth. He saw Jesus, the Angel of the LORD, in the flame of a bush supernaturally ablaze, yet not consumed. Spiritually speaking, Jesus Christ must speak to us as well, from the purging fire of His gospel and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. Since Christ came and suffered God’s holy wrath upon that tree of wood, shed His blood for the forgiveness of sins, suffered death, and that believing in Him we may have life in His name, you and I don’t have to wait forty years in the desert like Moses to hear the voice of Jesus Christ speak to our hearts. We only need to turn to His cross.
Lord Jesus speak and I will hear,
For You have sav’d me by Your grace;
With Your Spirit, draw me near
Until the day we’re face to face.