Who Gave Man His Mouth?

This is a short excerpt from my next book about the Divine Claims of Jesus Christ.

When God spoke to Moses through a burning bush, asking him to go to Egypt and lead his people out of slavery, Moses asked God what name he should tell them when they ask who sent him.

God answered, “I AM WHO I AM.” It sounds like he is eternally present.

Moses felt inadequate. Put yourself in the place of these Hebrew slaves to picture the scene: A man they hadn’t seen for 40 years suddenly shows up and tells them, “I have been told you are to pack up and leave here, following me.”

The Hebrews would say, “Where to?”

Moses would say, “I don’t know. God said he’d lead me.”

“What is his name?”

“I AM”

“You are Moses, but what is the name of the God who said he’d lead you?”

“I AM,” Moses would answer. “God said his name is “I Am that I am.” (or “I will be what I will be) v. 14.

Moses could imagine the people’s confusion and hesitation in following him. So in that wilderness of Midian, Moses said to God “What if they don’t believe me?” Then God gave him miraculous signs to do with his staff, his hand, and with water to convince them. Moses still resisted, saying, “I’m not eloquent.”

“Who gave man his mouth?” God replied. “Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say,” (Exodus 4:11-12, NIV). Moses still resisted until God agreed to send Moses’ brother, Aaron, with him. Then Moses finally agreed to go lead the Hebrew slaves out of Egypt. At least Aaron was familiar to the Hebrews during the forty years Moses had been gone. Subsequently, God worked through Moses and Aaron to rescue his people from slavery.

No matter what God calls us to do, if God is with us we have all we need to complete the task. God didn’t expect Moses to do this without His almighty power and wisdom. But God wanted to work through Moses.) The one who made our mouths can give us the words to say.

Hundreds of years later, when Jesus told the Pharisees, “Before Abraham was, I Am,” (John 8:58, NIV) Jesus claimed this same name of God for himself. He also said, “I and the Father are one.”