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And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM:
and he said, Thus shalt thou say
unto the children of Israel,
I AM hath sent me unto you.
(Exodus 3:14)
"I Am hath sent me," that was the answer Moses was to give if any doubted the authority of his mission to them. "I Am," the one absolute Being; the one and only God, who was and is and shall be: "I Am," the one God from eternity to eternity, eternal, unchangeable in His word and promises, as well as in His nature; the Creator of all; the Lord over all; the one Lord God, in whom all live and move and have their being; the one God, outside of whom there can be no other gods; the One who alone and unconditionally can say, "I am"; the One who alone has the right to command and the power to execute His threats and to fulfill His promises; the only One who is able to save and to destroy.
Yea, where begin and where end? This one name "I Am" includes every attribute of God. I am - eternal, omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient, holy, just, faithful, benevolent, merciful, gracious.
What a comprehensive name, and, oh, how precious to the believer! "I Am," that is His name, and the believer has but to add to "I Am" anything which exactly suits his own spiritual need, whatever it may be, and, behold, the Lord God is that to him. To the believer He is all in all. He is Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. This name "I Am" offers all, and faith has but to write over against that precious name whatever it needs, and faith has it.
"I Am" - is this name a precious sound to your ears, or do you tremble at the very thought of what this name signifies? Do you find peace, comfort, hope in this name? Is He who calls Himself "I Am" your Savior? Is He your Righteousness, so that you can stand before Him and not be found wanting on that Day?
If you believe, then you need not fear. He who calls Himself "I Am" is then your Wisdom, your Righteousness, your Sanctification, your Redemption. As a believer you can in a measure feel and enjoy the sweetness of this ineffable name - "I Am." (H.H., in Lutheran Witness, 1919.)
Benediction
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all.
Amen.
[devotion text by Rev. F. W. Herzberger (1920) -
from the Family Altar - CPH (1957 edition)]
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