‘But,’ said Moses to God, ‘when I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ if they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what am I to tell them?’ God replied, ‘I am who am.’ Then he added, ‘This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I AM sent me to you.’ ” (Ex 3:13-14)
This is the passage from the Bible that I struggled with the most while I was growing up. Why
would God say something so confusing: “I am who am”? If he really wanted us to get to know Him and what He is all about, why wouldn’t He be clearer? That should not be a question Christians should ask themselves though, because God’s perfect self-disclosure is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The love of the Father is perfectly revealed in his Son. However, I have grown to appreciate the burning bush passage from Exodus, because our human condition always tempts us to put God in clear and distinct categories and this passage reminds us that we cannot do that when thinking about God. What we find so puzzling is that no one says “I am who am,” but rather we are something or someone: we are men, or women, or children, or adults, or siblings, or spouses, or small, or tall, or mothers, or fathers, or doctors, or farmers… you name it! But God is infinite and limitless. Our human categories do not apply to Him.
When we fall into desperation or desolation because of what happens in our lives or because of the suffering of others that we see around us, we need to remind ourselves of what Psalm 46 says: “Be still and know that I am God” (v. 11) and that should bring us comfort. God’s ways are greater than ours and beyond our imagination–as St. Paul says, we cannot grasp yet what “God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor 2:9) and we need to remain a hopeful people. We cannot lose faith.
When we meditate on the greatness of God and His essence, as Christians, we cannot forget also the nearness of God. The invisible God in the Old Testament became man for us and has invited us to the Divine Fellowship of God and that has to always bring us hope and comfort.
That passage is confusing, but your reflection to remain a hopeful people is clear. Embrace the unknown cheerfully and follow Him, even though you know not where that leads. Nice post, thanks for sharing. :)
Katerina, my mentor teacher was raised a Catholic and Catholic educated. She told me “I became too educated to continue believing in God.” I asked her if her brain is finite. She said “yes.” I asked her if God is infinite. She said “yes.” I then asked her “how can your finite brain possibly comprehend the infinite?” She stared at me. But the conversation sticks with me because it is a continuous temptation for all of us. We think because we cannot understand God, He ceases to exist. I know I have been there and I am sure all of us in some way go there.
Thought provoking post.
We are meant to be ‘little christs’ within our communities. When people who do not know God wish to seek Him will they see the face of Christ when they see YOU, Me, anyone?
To me JOY is essential irrespective of your private feelings. When speaking about God allow your face to light up so that others will see the JOY within you and long for it themselves.
How did I become a Christian? I saw the expression on the faces of a group of people leaving a Church service. I watched them from my car and knew THIS is what I longed for…I want what they have. :)
Radicalmom I liked how you expressed it, how can a finite mind understand the infinite? Indeed.
Peace to you:)
Marie
It’s so true. The more educated we become the less we think we need God. Why is that? In our Bible study at Church we are reading about Israel’s wandering in the desert. How often they forgot about God and relied on themselves. How often they complained against God and against Moses. How fickle the people of Israel seemed to be. But we are not so different. In fact, we are very much the same. For those of us, who are doing our best to grow in holiness and to grow closer to God, we know how He works in our lives. Yet at any moment of doubt or conflict we so easily forget God and turn inward. This is especially true the more educated we become. We become proud and begin to feel that we have all the answers and can meet any challenge. It is then all too easy to turn from God. Pride is the ultimate sin. It is the quintessential act of turning inward and away from God.
Pax Christi
Mark
That one confused me as a kid, too. I am who am – what does that mean? But the past few years I think I’ve gotten a better handle on it. I agree with what others say – how can we comprehend the infinite?