Moses is to tell the Israelites that 'I AM' — the God of their fathers — has sent him (Exodus 3:14).
God answered Moses' anticipated question by revealing His name as 'I AM THAT I AM' and said, 'Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.' Les Feldick notes that this same I AM is the Jehovah of the Old Testament and that Moses expected the question because in Egypt every god had a name.
Exodus 3:13 — Moses asks God what he should say when the Israelites ask for His name.
Exodus 3:14 — God's definitive answer tells Moses to name Him 'I AM' before Israel.
In Exodus 3, God speaks to Moses from the burning bush and identifies Himself as 'the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob' (Exodus 3:6). When Moses asks what he should say if Israel asks for God's name, God answers, 'I AM THAT I AM' and instructs him, 'Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you' (Exodus 3:13-14). God then declares that the LORD God of their fathers has sent Moses and that 'this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations' (Exodus 3:15).
Les Feldick points out that Moses could anticipate the Israelites' question because they had come out of Egypt, where every god had a name. So when Moses told Israel that the God of their fathers had sent him, it was natural for them to ask, 'What is his name?' God's answer to Moses was 'I AM THAT I AM' — 'I AM hath sent me unto you' (Clips 1, 2). Les teaches that this same I AM is the Jehovah of the Old Testament. He explains that the term Jehovah, translated out of its contractions, stood for the I AM, and that Jesus also referred to Himself as the I Am (Clips 3, 4). Les also connects the name to God's earlier revelation to the patriarchs. In Exodus 6, God says He appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty (El Shaddai), but was not known to them by the name Jehovah. Finally, Les unpacks the Hebrew: 'I AM THAT I AM' is the definition of Yahweh, the eternal, preexistent I AM, while Havah means 'the I AM is to be revealed' — God continues to reveal Himself throughout human history (Clips 5, 7).
Moses could anticipate the question because Egypt was filled with named gods. As Les explains, 'in Egypt every god had a name,' and the Israelites had just come out of that environment. So when Moses told them 'The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you,' he knew they would respond, 'What is his name?' (Exodus 3:13).
Les explains that 'I AM THAT I AM' was the definition of Yahweh — the eternal, preexistent I AM. He adds that the related Hebrew word Havah carried the sense of 'the I AM is to be revealed,' a continuing action, so that God would be progressively revealed through human history.
Les teaches that the Old Testament name Jehovah stood for the I AM. When Moses asked for the name at the burning bush, the answer was 'I AM hath sent you.' Les then shows that in Exodus 6:3 God said He appeared to the patriarchs as God Almighty (El Shaddai), but by the name Jehovah He was not known to them.
In the burning bush account, God identifies Himself as 'the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' Les points out that although it is the angel of the Lord — the Redeemer, God the Son, Jehovah — He is also called God.
Les observes that 'I AM that I AM' is capitalized in every version he has seen, emphasizing it as the distinctive name God gives Moses to deliver to Israel.
Who Spoke from the Burning Bush? The Mystery of "I AM" Revealed
out of Egypt. Now, I pointed out in the last few moments of the last half hour, what did the Egyptians think of it? It has been for 40 years. And see, this is sticking in Moses' craw. He said, God, I can't go to Pharaoh. I'm just a shepherd. I'm an abomination to those Egyptians. And then, you know, he's going to say over in verse 15 and 16, I think it is, Lord, I can't do this. I can't speak.
Moses' Question and God's Answer: 'I AM'
Les recounts that Moses expected Israel to ask God's name and explains that God's reply was 'I AM THAT I AM' — 'I AM hath sent me unto you' — the same I AM the Old Testament calls Jehovah.
Israel's Question Expected After Egypt's Many Gods
Les shows that Moses could anticipate the question 'What is his name?' because in Egypt every god had a name, and God answered with 'I AM.'
Jehovah Stands for the I AM
Les says the Old Testament term Jehovah, translated out of its contractions, stood for the I AM; the great I AM sent Moses to Israel.
The I AM at the Bush and El Shaddai
Les explains that Jehovah implied the I AM, tells how Moses was told 'I Am hath sent you,' and notes the patriarchs knew God as El Shaddai, not Jehovah.
God's Name to the Patriarchs: El Shaddai
Les explains Exodus 6:3 — God appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as El Shaddai, the Almighty, sustaining God, and was not known to them by the name Jehovah.
God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the Bush
Les emphasizes that the voice at the burning bush identified Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, connecting the I AM to Israel's fathers.
The Meaning of 'I AM THAT I AM'
Les defines 'I AM THAT I AM' as Yahweh, the eternal, preexistent I AM, and notes Havah means the I AM is to be revealed.
Exodus 3:13: And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
Moses raises the very question the page answers.
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.
This is the definitive answer: the name is 'I AM.'
Exodus 3:15: And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
God links the name 'I AM' to His everlasting covenant name, the LORD (Jehovah), and to the patriarchs.
Exodus 6:2-3: And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
Les uses this passage to show the relationship between God Almighty (El Shaddai) and the name Jehovah that implies the I AM.
God told Moses, 'I AM hath sent me unto you' (Exodus 3:14). God identified Himself as 'I AM THAT I AM,' a name Les Feldick says is capitalized in every translation he has seen and is the same I AM the Old Testament calls Jehovah.
Moses could anticipate the question because Israel had lived in Egypt, where every god had a name. Les Feldick explains that in that culture it was natural for Israel to ask which God had sent him.
Yes, Les teaches that Jehovah, translated out of its contractions, stood for the I AM. He connects the burning bush answer — 'I AM hath sent you' — directly to the Old Testament name Jehovah.
Les points out that Jesus also referred to Himself as the I Am. This ties the name God gave Moses to the New Testament revelation of Christ.
Watch the Teaching: Who Spoke from the Burning Bush? The Mystery of "I AM" Revealed