Lesson 2: The Burning Bush
2.3 The Name of the LORD
“I Am Who I Am” – God’s Name as a Revelation of His Presence

………………………………………………………………….

Introduction

Names reveal much about us—especially in the biblical context. A name was not merely a label but carried meaning, history, and calling. When Moses asks God to name Himself, God reveals Himself in an unprecedented way. The answer God gives—“I AM WHO I AM”—is not only profound but also deeply comforting. It shows us that God is present, not just in theory, but in the reality of our lives. He is not far off—He is here with us, now.

………………………………………………………………….

Bible Study: Exodus 3:13–22 – The Name of the LORD

1. Historical and Narrative Context

Moses is in the wilderness of Midian, tending his father-in-law’s sheep and confronting his past. Once a prince at Pharaoh’s court, then a fugitive turned simple shepherd—now God appears to him in the burning bush. This scene marks one of the most dramatic turning points in all of Scripture.

God calls Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt. But Moses has doubts, fears, and questions. In verse 13 he asks:

“When I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’—what shall I say to them?”

2. The Significance of the Question: “What is His Name?” (v. 13)

This question carries several layers:

a) Representation
Moses knows he does not act by his own authority. The people need a God they can relate to—not an unknown spirit or a new religious idea. They must know: Who is sending you? Who stands behind this commission?

b) Revelation
In the ancient world, a name was inseparable from the being of the person. To know someone’s name was to have access to their character and power. Moses asks God not just for a label but for self-disclosure.

c) Inspiring Trust
After centuries in Egypt, Israel’s faith has grown weak. Idol worship was widespread, even among them. They knew the patriarchs’ stories, but they needed a God who would reveal Himself anew—a trustworthy God.

3. God’s Answer: “I AM WHO I AM” (v. 14)

The Hebrew phrase is “Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh,” literally:

• “I AM WHO I AM”

• “I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE”

• “I AM THE ONE WHO EXISTS”

• “I AM THE ONE WHO PROVES FAITHFUL”

a) Grammatical Background
The verb ehyeh comes from hayah, “to be, become, exist.” It is both timeless and dynamic—not static like “I was” or “I am,” but open and future-oriented:

“I am the One who will be what you need.”

b) Theological Depth
God does not say, “I am Love” or “I am Life,” but “I AM.” This implies:

• Self-Existence: God exists from Himself—no beginning, no end.

• Faithfulness: He remains the same—always.

• Presence: God is here now—not just in the past or future.

• Activity: God acts—in history, in relationship, in our lives.

c) Connection to “Yahweh”
In verse 15 God names Himself Yahweh (LORD in most English Bibles), the third-person singular of the same verb “to be”—“He is”—and that becomes God’s personal name in the Old Testament. “Yahweh” appears over 6,800 times in Hebrew Scripture and is central to Israel’s understanding of God.

4. Exodus 6:3 in Context

“I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name ‘Yahweh’ I did not make myself fully known to them.”

This does not mean the name was unknown before (see Gen. 4:26; 12:8), but that its full meaning—God’s faithful, near presence in covenant—was only unveiled in the context of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt.

5. The Covenant – Yahweh, the Near God

Moses’ calling is not merely a mission—it expresses God’s covenant love:

• He sees the suffering of His people (Exod. 3:7).

• He remembers His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (3:6).

• He acts out of faithfulness, not because of Israel’s merit.

The name “Yahweh” becomes a symbol of God’s deeds in history—full of patience, love, mercy, and justice.

6. The Name as Commission

“This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.” (Exod. 3:15)

God’s name is not meant to be hidden but proclaimed. Israel is to call upon His name, remember it, and pass it on to future generations.

7. New Testament Fulfillment

In the New Testament, the “I AM” name finds fulfillment in Jesus:

“Before Abraham was born, I am.” (John 8:58)
“I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
“I am the light of the world… I am the door… I am the good shepherd… I am the resurrection and the life.”

Jesus consciously adopts the “I AM” title, revealing Himself as Yahweh made flesh—present and accessible.

………………………………………………………………….

Answers to the Questions

Question 1: Why did Moses want to know God’s name? What does God’s name mean?

Moses sought God’s name because he knew that leading Israel out of Egypt would provoke resistance and doubt. The people needed more than a nameless deity—they needed the familiar, faithful God who introduces Himself personally. By asking the name, Moses ultimately asks, “Who are You, God? Can I trust You?”

God’s answer shows:

• He is unchanging, eternal, and reliable.

• He is personal, merciful, and present.

• He is not a distant deity but a covenant-keeping God.

His name is not merely a title but a revelation of His very being: “I am with you. Always. And I act.”

Question 2: In what way have you experienced the nearness and intimacy of Yahweh in your life, which He offers to all who submit to Him?

Example personal answer:
I have felt God’s nearness most in times of uncertainty—when making tough decisions or facing crisis. It wasn’t always an audible voice but a deep inner assurance that He was there, that His way was good even when I didn’t understand it. His presence showed up in timely Scriptures, answered prayers, and through people who helped me. In those moments I realized: Yahweh is not just “God”—He is my God.

………………………………………………………………….

Spiritual Principles

• God’s name is His promise: He is the same—yesterday, today, and forever.

• God’s presence is real—for all who seek Him.

• Yahweh acts in faithfulness and grace—even when we doubt.

• God’s identity is not abstract but relational.

………………………………………………………………….

Application for Daily Life

• Call on God’s name—not as empty words, but as a conscious confession: “You are with me.”

• Trust His presence when the path is unclear. Like Moses, say: “If You do not go with us, we will not go.”

• Speak His name when others seek direction—share how you have experienced God’s nearness.

• Live as someone who knows: God is not distant—but here, right now.

………………………………………………………………….

Conclusion

God calls Himself “I AM” because He is present, faithful, and personal. He invites us into a relationship of trust, even when the way is hard. Moses experienced this—and we may experience it today as well.

………………………………………………………………….

Thought of the Day

“When I don’t know what comes next, I at least know who walks with me.”
Yahweh is not the God of distance but the God who says, I am with you.

………………………………………………………………….

Illustration – “I Am with You—even When You Don’t Feel It”

Chapter 1: The Abyss

Lina stood by the window, staring into the night. Neon lights reflected on wet streets. Traffic roared below. But inside, she was silent. Too silent.

For months she’d felt like a ghost in her own life. Work, studies, chores played on like an empty movie. A year ago, her mother died of cancer. Since then, everything felt different. Prayers went unanswered. Bible verses sounded hollow. The God who calls Himself “I AM” felt more like “I was”—and now you’re alone.

At twenty-six, Lina was a theology student in her fourth semester. Yes, she knew the doctrines: God is faithful, God is present, God acts. But what use was that if He never showed up?

That evening she knelt for the first time in weeks—not out of discipline but despair.
“Lord, if You really are, then… then tell me: Who are You? Are You truly Yahweh? Or just a concept? I don’t know anymore.”

Silence.

Chapter 2: The Burning Bush of Presence

The next day at university, she sat in her Hebrew class as Professor Neumann unpacked Exodus 3: “Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh—‘I AM WHO I AM.’”
He explained:
“Here God doesn’t say what He does but who He is. Not ‘I am your healer’ or ‘I am your judge,’ but simply: I AM here—whether you believe or doubt, see or don’t see.”

Those words pierced Lina’s heart. It was as though God spoke to her through that dry professor.

Chapter 3: The Name in the Hospital

A few days later, Lina got news: her father was in the ER—heart trouble. She rushed to the hospital, bracing for what might come.
There she saw an elderly woman weeping in the hallway, ignored by everyone. Lina felt compelled to approach her.
“Can I help?” she asked gently.
The woman, Maria, told her son had been in a motorcycle accident and was in surgery. She asked Lina to pray with her.

“I’m not sure if I…” Lina began. But Maria took her hand.
Lina prayed, not eloquent or long, just honest:
“Lord, You say You are. Then be here now. Be with Maria. Be with her son. Be with me.”

Moments later Maria whispered,
“You know… I read this morning in my Bible: ‘I will be what I will be.’ I didn’t understand until now.”

Chapter 4: I AM—even in Pain

Lina’s father recovered. The following weeks were filled with care, conversations, rebuilding. God didn’t instantly change the situation—but something changed in Lina. She began to pray again—not because she felt it, but because she knew: “He is.”
She wrote her term paper on Exodus 3 and wept, not out of sorrow, but out of comfort.

“I AM WHO I AM” now meant to her:
I am with you when you understand nothing.
I am here when you can’t believe anymore.
I am near when you’ve lost yourself.

Chapter 5: Discovering the Name

Six months later, Lina stood before her congregation for the first time. Her topic: “Who Is God?”
She read Exodus 3 aloud and then said:
“I once thought the name Yahweh was merely a theological concept. Then a pious myth. Today I know: this name is my salvation.
He is not only the God of miracles.
He is not only the God who always heals.
But He is the God who is present—in tears, in midnight nights, in doubts.
I have not seen Him, yet He was there.
I have not felt Him, yet He was faithful.
He did not speak loudly, yet His name kept its promise:
‘I AM.’”

The congregation was silent; some wept. And Lina knew: God had not forgotten her name either.

………………………………………………………………….

Application of the Story

This story shows what the name “I AM” means in everyday life:

• Not always spectacular.

• But always faithful.

• Not always visible.

• But always present.