Why does Les say his explanation of the 'I AM' passage in Exodus 3:14 is not a stretch?
The explanation is not a stretch because it stays strictly according to the biblical language, especially the Hebrew wording of Exodus 3:14, where God tells Moses to say “I AM sent you.” A Jewish hearer confirmed the Hebrew was 100 percent right and had never heard it explained that way.
Les explains that his lesson on Exodus 3:14 is not a stretch because he does not add to or force the text; he stays strictly according to the biblical language. He recalls sharing this teaching in 1975 with an Israeli high school superintendent while the man walked guard duty near the Dead Sea. The man spoke perfect English, had been educated in Boston, and was aghast at the explanation. He told Les the Hebrew was 100 percent right, yet he had never heard it explained that way, and said he would get his New Testament and check it out. From then on Les was more confident when teaching Exodus chapter 3, verse 14, where God says to tell the children of Israel, “I am sent you,” because before the half hour ended he would show they were not stretching any points but staying strictly according to biblical language.
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.