The Old Testament 'I Am' statements are God's covenant names that reveal His provision for Israel, and in Les Feldick's teaching they set up Jesus' seven 'I AM' claims in John's Gospel.
God first identifies Himself as 'I AM' in Exodus 3:14, and the Old Testament records that same name in covenant names such as Jehovah-Jireh and Jehovah-Shalom. Les teaches that there are seven of these 'I Am' names, each meeting a distinct need of the nation of Israel. In John's Gospel, Jesus takes up the identical 'I AM' title seven times, identifying Himself as the Jehovah of the Old Testament.
Exodus 3:14 — God first reveals His self-existent name 'I AM,' the foundation for the compound covenant names.
Genesis 22:14 — Abraham's altar name 'Jehovah-jireh' is the first of the seven Old Testament 'I Am' expressions Les identifies.
Psalm 23:1 — The familiar declaration 'The LORD is my shepherd' is one of these covenant 'I Am' names.
The foundational 'I AM' revelation is in Exodus 3:14, where God says to Moses, 'I AM THAT I AM ... I AM hath sent me unto you.' Throughout the Old Testament, the covenant name Jehovah is compounded with descriptions of God's provision for Israel. After Abraham offered the ram instead of Isaac, he named the place 'Jehovah-jireh' (Genesis 22:14). In Exodus 15:26, God declares, 'I am the LORD that healeth thee.' After victory over Amalek, Moses built an altar and called it 'Jehovahnissi' (Exodus 17:15). Gideon built an altar and called it 'Jehovah-shalom' (Judges 6:24). The Shepherd Psalm opens with 'The LORD is my shepherd' (Psalm 23:1). Jeremiah 23:6 says a coming King will be called 'THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS,' and Ezekiel 48:35 says the restored city's name will be 'The LORD is there.'
Les Feldick teaches that the Old Testament contains seven distinct 'I Am's' with regard to God and the nation of Israel (Clip 3). He says these are not random titles but seven distinct needs of Israel, fulfilled by a seven-fold operation of Jehovah, whose name means 'I AM' (Clips 2, 4). The seven are: Jehovah-Jireh ('I Am your Provider', Genesis 22), Jehovah-Rapha ('I Am the LORD that healeth thee', Exodus 15), Jehovah-Nissi ('I Am your banner', Exodus 17), Jehovah-Shalom ('I Am your peace', Judges 6), Jehovah-Rehah ('I Am your Shepherd', Psalm 23), Jehovah-Sidkenu ('I Am the Righteousness', Jeremiah 23), and Jehovah-Shammah ('I Am there', Ezekiel 48) (Clips 0, 1, 5, 6). All these names, Les says, are intrinsic to God's dealing with Israel and are wrapped up in that one name Jehovah (Clips 5, 6). When he moves to John's Gospel, Les points out that Jesus uses the same 'I AM' seven times -- bread of life, light of the world, door of the sheep, good shepherd, resurrection, vine, and way/truth -- tying Himself to the person of Jehovah all the way back to the Old Testament (Clips 1, 2, 4, 7). Finally, in Revelation 22, Les sees 'the bright and morning star' as what he calls the Eighth I Am (Clips 1, 3).
Les Feldick identifies seven distinct Old Testament 'I Am's' that are intrinsic to God's dealing with the nation of Israel. He lists them as: Jehovah-Jireh ('I Am your Provider', Genesis 22:14), Jehovah-Rapha ('I am the LORD that healeth thee', Exodus 15:26), Jehovah-Nissi ('I Am your banner', Exodus 17:15), Jehovah-Shalom ('I Am your peace', Judges 6:24), Jehovah-Rehah ('I Am your Shepherd', Psalm 23:1), Jehovah-Sidkenu ('I Am the Righteousness', Jeremiah 23:6), and Jehovah-Shammah ('I Am there', Ezekiel 48:35). Les says these names meet every need of the nation of Israel.
God revealed Himself to Moses at the burning bush as 'I AM THAT I AM.' Les points out that this is the same 'I AM' of pre-eternity and of all Scripture. He then shows Jesus claiming that very title in John 8:58: 'Before Abraham was, I am.' So the Old Testament 'I AM' name is not just an ancient title; it is the name Jesus takes for Himself.
Les teaches that just as there are seven distinct Old Testament 'I Am's', the Gospel of John records seven instances of Jesus using 'I AM.' He lists examples such as 'I am the bread of life,' 'I am the resurrection,' 'I am the light of the world,' and 'I am the vine.' In John 10, Jesus also says 'I am the door of the sheep' and 'I am the good shepherd.' For Les, these are not merely metaphors; they show that Jesus is the Jehovah of the Old Testament, using the same covenant name.
After the seven Old Testament names and the seven I AM statements in John, Les sees an eighth expression in Revelation 22. He quotes Jesus as saying, 'I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star,' and calls this 'the Eighth I Am.'
The Seven Old Testament 'I Am' Names
Les traces the seven names from Jehovah-Rapha to Jehovah-Shalom to the Shepherd and the Kingdom righteousness, showing each is God's provision for Israel.
Seven Old Testament Names + Seven in John
Les pairs the seven Old Testament names with the seven 'I Ams' in John, then identifies Revelation 22's Bright and Morning Star as the Eighth I Am.
Jehovah Means 'I AM'
Les explains that Jehovah stands for 'I AM' and that the seven names answer seven distinct needs of Israel, with Jesus using the same title seven times in John.
Jehovah-Jireh to the Bright and Morning Star
Starting with Abraham's ram at Mount Moriah, Les shows the first of the seven names and then moves to Revelation 22's eighth expression.
The I AM of the Burning Bush
Les connects Moses' 'I AM THAT I AM' to Jesus' 'Before Abraham was, I am' and to the seven John I AMs mirroring the Old Testament.
Names Intrinsic to Israel's Future
Les explains names like Jehovah-Nissi, Jehovah-Sidkenu, and Jehovah-Shammah as all wrapped up in Jehovah, with the last pointing to Christ's presence in His Kingdom.
Covenant Names for Israel
Les emphasizes the seven names are intrinsic to God's covenant relationship with Israel, citing Jehovah-Jireh and Jehovah-Rehah as examples.
John 10: The Door and the Good Shepherd
Using John 10, Les shows Jesus applying the Old Testament 'I AM' title to Himself as the door and the good shepherd, identifying Him as Jehovah.
Genesis 22:14: And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
Abraham names the place after God provided the ram in Isaac's place; Les calls it the first of the seven Old Testament I Am names.
Exodus 3:14: 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.
God's foundational self-identification from the burning bush; Jesus later applies it to Himself.
Exodus 15:26: And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
God's healing promise to Israel, which Les transliterates as Jehovah-Rapha.
Exodus 17:15: And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:
Moses names the altar after victory over Amalek; Les calls it Jehovah-Nissi, 'I am your banner.'
Judges 6:24: Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovah-shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
Gideon's altar name reveals God as Israel's peace; Les calls it Jehovah-Shalom.
Psalm 23:1: The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
The shepherd's psalm begins with the name Jehovah; Les reads it as Jehovah-Rehah, 'I Am your Shepherd.'
Jeremiah 23:6: In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
A coming King is called 'THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS'; Les calls it Jehovah-Sidkenu and places it in the Kingdom.
Ezekiel 48:35: It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there.
The city's final name, 'The LORD is there,' is what Les calls Jehovah-Shammah.
John 8:58: Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
Jesus claims the same 'I AM' title from the burning bush.
John 10:7: Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
One of John's seven I AM statements, which Les says tie Jesus to the Jehovah of the Old Testament.
John 10:11: I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Another of John's I AM statements, showing Jesus as the Shepherd of Psalm 23.
Revelation 22:16: I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Les calls 'the bright and morning star' the Eighth I Am.
Les teaches that they match. There are seven Old Testament names of Jehovah and seven 'I AM' statements in John's Gospel, and Jesus uses the same 'I AM' title from the burning bush in John 8:58.
Les explains that Jehovah-Jireh, from Genesis 22:14, means 'I Am your Provider.' Abraham named the place after God provided the ram in place of Isaac.
According to Les, it is Jehovah-Shammah, from Ezekiel 48:35, meaning 'I am there.' It looks to the time when Christ will be ruling in the Kingdom and present with His people.
Watch the Teaching: The 7 "I AM" Names of God — Old Testament to John's Gospel