(1) INTRODUCTION
The translation of “I am that I am” from Hebrew also mean “I am who I am”
I am what am” I will be what I will be” I will cause to be what I will cause to be. This Name of God came at Moses’s encounter of the burning bush (Exodus 3:14) Moses asked who should I tell the Israelites, that is the one who send me? God’s answer could be an evasion of Moses question or His reluctance to tell Moses his Name, a statement of the nature of God. In this study we shall dwell on the explanation of “I am that I am” as “I will cause to be what I will cause to be”.
(2) I WILL CAUSE TO BE WHAT I WILL CAUSE TO BE
God in the Book of Genesis caused to exist what he wanted through the words of His mouth – in spite of the prevailing situation of the then world.
(i) Narrate briefly the situation in the world in Genesis 1:1-2 despite these three difficult things God spoke and things began to happen.
(ii) Genesis 1:3, 6, 9,11,14,20. How simply do you think these things created by God were then? What is this teaching us?
(iii) The Israelites had heard the creation story, the call of their forefathers among others of the wonderful power of God to save and deliver, and to fulfill or do what he had promised to do. In giving answer to the question of Moses, God asked him to inform the Israelites that “I am that I am” that is I am still the God in spite of their present situation and delay of about 30 years in fulfilling the promise he made to Abraham as well as them in bringing them out of the land of bondage to the promised land.
(iv) How do you think the Israelites would have felt after waiting for 430 years instead of the 400 years God promised they would only spend in the land of Egypt? Tell us how will you have felt if you were among them?
(v) The death of beloved ones (husband, wife)or some critical or very bad situation you have found yourself may make you to ask whether God is still God or God where is your face? These situations may want to change our perception about God or serving him.
(vi) Discuss briefly some of the situations/experiences that have made you queried whether certain aspect of God’s promises are still valid today. How did you overcome the situation?
(vii) Share your experiences how you felt when you lost your husband/wife then and today.
(viii) God is still God. The demise of our loved one’s or occurrence of bad situation does not have anything to do with whom God is or what the promise he had made or decided to fulfill. Job recognized this principle when he lost all, yet he bowed down and worshipped God Job 1:20-21.
(ix) How did the Israelites do when God eventually took them away from their captivity? Psalm 126:1-6. God is a God who never change. When he promises he will fulfill. The end of Job was better than his beginning. Job 42:12.
The end of your life will be better than your beginning or present in Jesus name.
(3) JESUS AS “I AM THAT I AM”
In the first part of this study we have seen God manifesting as God. He never changes and that is why we are not consumed. The manifestation of the “I am that I am” in the New Testament was an expression of personality of Jesus who is the word of the God made manifest in the flesh. He has lived from eternal. John 8:58, Heb. 13:8.
Great “I am”
Declaration of Jesus
a) I am the door of the sheep. John 10:7
b) I am the bread of life John 6:51
c) I am the good shepherd John 10:11
d) I am the light of the world John 9:5
e) I am the true vine John 15:1-13
f) I am the way, the truth and the light John 14:6
We shall briefly look at those “great I am declaration of Jesus” and their implication for us today especially as widow or widower.
(A) I AM THE DOOR OF THE SHEEP/GOOD SHEPHERD JOHN 10:7&11
The main door(s) to our homes are often the most important doors. Our doors are always in two positions – either open or close. The main door or entrance to our home faces more oppositions, pressure and attacks more than the ones inside.
- Compare the appearance of your main door(s) with the doors inside which one get quickly spoilt?
(ii) Can you have access into your house if the main entrance is locked?
(iii) Can you go through another person’s separate house to get into your house?
(iv) So if Jesus is your main entrance to your house and he is the same all time you know your protection is sure. Look at the following verses and trust him for his protection. Isaiah 40:28-31, Psalm 91, Matthew 28:20.
(v) Jesus is the door to the Kingdom of God. Although people want to get to the Kingdom through several ways or doors (John 10:1-2)
The Porter (The Holy Spirit) must open door for people to be saved. Has the Porter opened the door for you?
(vi) The significant of this I am declaration is that Jesus who died for the salvation of man about 2000 years ago is still the way to eternal life. God has not and will not devise another door of Eternal life.
(vii) Psalm 23:1 says that the Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. Please mention four conditions you must have before the Lord can be your shepherd John 10:1-5
- …………………………………
- ………………………………….
- ……………………………..
- ……………………………
(viii) Psalm 23 mention some of the benefits of having good shepherd like Jesus always
a.
b.
C.
d.
(B) I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE –JOHN 6:51
Bread is one of the food items we eat. It nourishes the body. The impression shows that God is at the centre of food. He was the giver of food (manna) to the Israelites in their journey to the Promised Land. But Jesus is the everlasting food that nourishes the believers.
a. How can we ‘eat Jesus’ today and what is the condition of eating the living bread John 6:35, 1 Corinthians 11?
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b. Tell us the importance of the word of God in the life of a believer
i ………………………………………………..
ii ………………………………………………….
Iii ………………………………………………….
Iv ………………………………………………..
c. How can we study the word of God to benefit fully through it?
d. What are the means of getting words from God apart from reading the Bible?
i ………………………………
ii ……………………………….
iii …………………………………
iv ……………………………………
e. According to this passage what is eternal life? John 17:3
(C) I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD JOHN 8:12, 9: 5
Jesus came to shine His Light on the people in the World so that they can see and become God’s light Isaiah. 42:6, 49:6, 60:20 He came so that those who sit in darkness will see the great light Micah 7:8.
i. Blindness can be physical or spiritual in nature and Jesus has come to show light to both.
ii. Differentiate between Spiritual and Physical blindness.
iii. Jesus repeated being the Light in John 9:54 by opening the blind man’s eyes to show how his coming would open the spiritual eyes of people. We are expected to response to his call so that we will have Light and be called light of the World too. (Matt 5:14)
(D) I AM THE TRUE VINE JOHN 15:1-13
The last “I am Declaration” of Jesus we will discuss is that He is the True Vine (Tree) we are his branches.
i. This shows the intimacy/relationship that Christ has opened to all who believe in Him. He binds us together to himself and other believers.
ii. Isaiah 5, mention at least five things that God did to his Vineyard to make it good.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
iii. Mention some of the important roles of the Vine (Jesus) for the Branches (us).
a.
b.
c.
d.
iv. What are the expectations of the Vine from the branches? Isaiah 5, John 15:1-7.
v. Having Jesus as “I am the Vine” assures us of
– His care and supplies to all the branches
– He carries us and our burdens
– He is our source of life
– Mention others
vi. Finally, consider what Jesus the I Am of the New Testament did to the following people’s situations and show which of his I AM manifested in each situation
a. The widow of Nain Luke 7:1-17
b. Feeding of the five thousand Matthew 14:14-21
c. Lazarus-John 11:18-45
d. Bartimaeus-Mark 10:45-52
e. Mention others
(E) CONCLUSION
Develop confidence in God. He is the I AM THAT I AM. God who is who He is, God who will do what he will do whether you have money, husband, helpers etc or not. Trust Him and trust His word. He gives strength to the weary. Isaiah 40:28-31.