What does Moses' question in Exodus 3:13 teach about God's identity? The Setting at the Burning Bush • Israel has groaned under Egyptian slavery for four centuries. • God meets Moses “in a flame of fire from within a bush” (Exodus 3:2) and announces His plan to deliver His people. • The commission is clear, but Moses feels unqualified and raises two concerns: “Who am I?” (v. 11) and “Who are You?” (v. 13). Moses’ Question: “What Is His Name?” “Then Moses asked God, ‘Suppose I go to the Israelites and say, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you,” and they ask me, “What is His name?” Then what shall I tell them?’ ” (Exodus 3:13) Why the Name Matters • In Scripture a “name” expresses character, authority, and reputation (Genesis 17:5; Isaiah 9:6). • Centuries in Egypt had blurred Israel’s memory of the covenant God; Moses realizes they will want proof of who stands behind the coming deliverance. • The request shows that true knowledge of God must come by His own self-disclosure, not human speculation. What Moses’ Question Reveals About God’s Identity • God is personal—He can be addressed and known by name, unlike the impersonal deities of Egypt. • God is distinct—Israel must not confuse Him with any other so-called gods; His name sets Him apart (Exodus 15:11). • God is covenantal—“the God of your fathers” ties His identity to past promises (Genesis 15:13-14). • God is authoritative—Only the One who sends Moses has the right to command Pharaoh and redeem a nation (Exodus 5:1). How the Rest of Scripture Echoes the Point • God answers the question in v. 14, “I AM WHO I AM,” revealing His self-existence and eternality; this blossoms into the covenant name YHWH (Exodus 3:15; 6:2-3). • “Before the mountains were born… from everlasting to everlasting You are God” (Psalm 90:2). • “I, the LORD, do not change” (Malachi 3:6). • Jesus applies the divine name to Himself: “Truly, truly, I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58). • Revelation frames God the same way: “who is, and was, and is to come” (Revelation 1:8). Key Takeaways for Today • God defines Himself; we receive, not reshape, His revelation. • Because His name expresses unchanging being, His promises are rock-solid (Hebrews 13:8). • Knowing His true identity equips believers to confront the “Pharaohs” of our age with confidence, just as Moses did. |
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