Understanding Who God Is: The Eternal I AM

In a world where we constantly change and evolve, there's something profoundly comforting about a God who remains the same. When Moses asked God how to identify Him to the Israelites, God's response was both simple and profound: "I am who I am." This declaration reveals the eternal, unchanging nature of our Creator.

What Does It Mean That God Is the "I AM"?

God's response to Moses wasn't just a name - it was a revelation of His eternal nature. Unlike us, God doesn't change with time, circumstances, or emotions. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Before the mountains were formed, from everlasting to everlasting, He is God.

This eternal nature means God doesn't experience the ups and downs that define human existence. He doesn't have good days and bad days. He doesn't wake up in a different mood or change His mind based on circumstances.

How Is God Different From Humanity?

God Is Spirit, Not Fles

One of the most fundamental differences between God and humanity is that God is spirit. He doesn't have a physical body with all its chemical processes, hormones, and biological responses that influence our daily lives.

We experience hot flashes, adrenaline rushes, dopamine highs, and cortisol spikes. Our bodies produce serotonin, oxytocin, endorphins, and countless other chemicals that affect how we feel and respond to situations. God, being spirit, doesn't experience any of these physical influences.

God Doesn't Experience Human Emotions the Same Way

Our emotions constantly push us around. We can have a great day that instantly becomes terrible because of one phone call or unexpected event. We feel joy, sadness, fear, anger, and love - all of which create positive and negative responses in our lives.

God never stubbed His toe, never had a parent discipline Him, never experienced uncertainty, guilt, or shame. He was perfect, holy, and pure in every thought and action until He chose to experience humanity firsthand.

Why Did God Choose to Become Human?

To Understand Our Experience

God, who had everything and lacked nothing, made an incredible decision. He chose to experience what it means to be human - to feel hunger after fasting for 40 days, to experience temptation when Satan offered Him all the kingdoms of the world, to feel the sting of betrayal when Judas sold Him for thirty pieces of silver.

He wanted to know what it felt like when cortisol rushed through His system, when adrenaline spiked in moments of danger, when His body pushed against His spirit during times of testing.

To Demonstrate His Love

This wasn't just an experiment in human experience. Romans 5:8 tells us that "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." He didn't wait for us to get our lives together, to understand all the theology, or to become worthy. He loved us right where we were.

What Can We Learn From Abraham's Relationship With God?

Abraham Knew God Through Walking With Him

Abraham didn't have a Bible to study or centuries of theological teaching to draw from. He knew God because he walked with Him daily. When God told him to leave everything familiar and go to a land he'd never seen, Abraham packed up and went because he trusted the character of the God who was speaking to him.

Faith Comes From Knowing God's Characte

When God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, Abraham was willing because he knew God's promises were true. He believed that even if God allowed him to go through with the sacrifice, God would raise Isaac from the dead because Isaac was the son of promise.

This wasn't blind faith - it was informed trust based on years of walking with God and seeing His faithfulness.

What God Is Not

God Is Not a Liar

Numbers 23:19 declares that "God is not a man, that He should lie." Every promise He makes is available for us to claim. Every hope He offers is ours to receive.

God Cannot Be Tempted by Evil

James 1:13 tells us that God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. He will never lead you toward sin or away from His best for your life.

God Is Not Distant

Psalm 145:18 reminds us that "The Lord is near to all who call upon Him." He's not waiting for you to get your life together before He'll help you. He's ready to bridge any gap between where you are and where He wants you to be.

Life Application

Stop trying to juggle all your problems alone before coming to God. Many people think they need to get their lives figured out before they can truly surrender to God, but this is backwards thinking. As soon as you solve one problem, life throws another challenge your way.

Instead of waiting until you have everything under control, bring your struggles to the God who already knows what you're facing and who holds tomorrow in His hands. He experienced every human emotion and challenge so He could help you through yours.

Questions for Reflection:

• What areas of your life are you trying to "figure out" before fully trusting God with them?
• How does knowing that God chose to experience human struggles change your perspective on your current challenges?
• In what ways can you begin walking with God daily, like Abraham did, to build a deeper understanding of His character?

The God who spoke creation into existence, who walked with Abraham, and who chose to experience humanity for your sake is the same God who wants to walk with you today. He's not distant, He's not changing His mind about you, and He's not waiting for you to become perfect. He's the eternal "I AM" who loves you exactly where you are.