Recently, a friend asked for a few thoughts on a passage he was preparing for a homily based on the famous theophanic encounter Moses had with
Exodus 3:1-8 and exodus 3:13-15
Thoughts:
- Moses had to step into his curiosity to see an incredible sight on the mountain of God (Horeb) - the burning bush not being consumed, which we know as the “Burning Bush encounter.”
- God’s presence is always a Holy encounter—dangerous, but you will live instead of dying because He is Life.
- The bush was consumed, yet it did not die, as Christ’s presence was in the bush, calling out to Moses to set him on a purpose: to participate in the redemption of His people.
- When you step into His presence and seek His presence and set your face in seeking Him- You are first invited to the awareness of His Holiness (God asks him to remove his sandals as he stood on Holy ground) and into His intimacy. This positions you in the invitation that launches you into your purpose and calling.
- Stephen’s speech recounts this encounter of Moses seeing the One in the burning bush— in the New Testament, Acts 7:30–34 recounts this event during Stephen’s speech before the Sanhedrin:
“After forty years had passed, an angel (Jesus) appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. When he saw this, he was amazed at the sight. As he went over to get a closer look, he heard the Lord say: ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.”
Our life pursuits should center around the passion of seeking Him and His presence, not just for searching for our purpose; it is a byproduct of our Being with Him and being in Him. The Love we Loved and the intimacy our Lord seeks—for He sent His only son on the cross to launch humanity’s greatest rescue and redemption mission. Beloved, He is worthy of our hearts’ attention, tenderness, and the government of our lives.
Moses encounter of Jesus in the burning bush is also the pivotal revelation of Yahweh’s holy name I AM who I AM. A.W Tozer talks about the “is ”-ness of God. He is the ever-present God. With Him, there is no beginning and no end. He just is. The rabbis feared out of reverence to write his holy name.
This touches on a rich theological moment—Moses’ encounter with God in the burning bush (Exodus 3)—a profound theophany and a foundational revelation of God’s name and nature. Here’s a fuller explanation, connecting it to A.W. Tozer’s reflections and Jewish reverence for the divine name:
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The Revelation of “I AM WHO I AM”
In Exodus 3:13–14, Moses asks God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God replies:
“I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
(Exodus 3:14, NIV)
This moment is pivotal in Moses’ life and the biblical narrative because God reveals His eternal, self-existent nature. The Hebrew phrase used is “Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh,” which can be translated as:
• “I Am Who I Am”
• “I Will Be Who I Will Be”
• “I Am the One Who Is”
This indicates God’s absolute being—He is not contingent on anything or anyone. He is uncaused, uncreated, eternal, and always fully present.
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A.W. Tozer and the “Is-ness” of God
In The Knowledge of the Holy, A.W. Tozer reflects on God’s self-existence and unchanging nature. He writes:
“God has no origin… Origin is a word that can apply only to things created. God is ‘is.’”
Tozer emphasizes the “is-ness” of God to underline that God is always present, active, and complete. There’s no becoming with God—only being. This contrasts with human existence, which is constantly changing, growing, aging, or fading. God alone simply is, forever, “I AM.”
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The Holy Name and Jewish Reverence
In Jewish tradition, the revealed name—YHWH (Yahweh)—became God’s sacred, ineffable name, known as the Tetragrammaton. Out of reverence and awe, rabbis and scribes never pronounced the name aloud. Instead, when reading the Scriptures, they would say “Adonai” (Lord) or, in some contexts, “HaShem” (The Name).
This reverence extended to how they wrote the name:
• Scribes would go through ritual cleansing before writing YHWH.
• In many texts, they substituted it entirely with “Adonai” to avoid accidental misuse.
• Some modern Jewish traditions continue this by writing “G‑d” instead of “God.”
This fear wasn’t rooted in superstition but in a profound recognition of the sacredness of God’s being and name—an acknowledgment that this is not just a name but the vssence of the one who IS.
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Jesus and the Burning Bush Connection
When Jesus says in John 8:58,
“Before Abraham was, I AM,”
He is not just making a chronological claim but identifying Himself with Yahweh.
The crowd understood the weight of this statement, which is why they picked up stones to kill Him (John 8:59). Jesus was invoking the divine name revealed to Moses, declaring His eternal existence and unity with the Father.
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In Summary
• Moses’ encounter with God in the burning bush reveals God’s eternal self-existence.
• The name “I AM WHO I AM” signals a being who is unchanging, ever-present, and complete.
• Tozer emphasizes that God’s nature is pure “is-ness”—He simply is.
• The rabbis’ reverence for God’s name reflects a deep theological awe, protecting the sacred from casual or profane use.
• Jesus later directly connects Himself to this “I AM,” confirming His divine identity and continuity with the God of Moses.
Jesus: The I AM
Scripture: John 8:58
“Before Abraham was, I AM.”
• Jesus doesn’t just echo the name—He claims it.
• This reveals the oneness of Jesus with Yahweh and His eternal nature.
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS of Exodus 3:13–14
1. Rest in God’s Constant Presence
“I AM” means God is always present—not past or future only, but right now.
How to apply:
• In anxiety or uncertainty, remind yourself: “God is here.”
• Practice breath prayers: Inhale — “You are.” Exhale — “With me.”
The cause of our breathing is actually “YHWH.” Yahweh is the cause of our breathing and very existence because His spirit gives oxygen to our lungs.
• We Begin our day with: “God, I know You ARE with me today—present in every moment. Present in my every breath that I can take.”
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2. Trust in God’s Sufficiency
“I AM” implies whatever you need, God is.
How to apply:
• When you feel inadequate, say: “God, You are enough—even when I’m not.”
• Make a list of your current needs or fears, and beside each one, write:
• “God is Provider”
• “God is Peace”
• “God is Wisdom”
• “God is Strength”
Replace my small “I” with the God who says - I AM. So when I feel and tell the voices in my head and heart - I am not enough replace it with I AM THE GOD WHO IS ENOUGH FOR ME, or (when I believe the lie I cannot provide) replace it with - the truth.
I AM THE GOD WHO IS MY PROVIDER
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3. Respond to God’s Calling
Like Moses, we may feel unqualified. But God doesn’t call the qualified—He qualifies the called.
How to apply:
• Say “yes” to that nudge to serve, lead, speak, or help—even if you’re scared.
• Remember: The call of God comes with the presence of God.
He doesn’t say “Go” without also saying “I will be with you.” (Exodus 3:12)
He is so faithful that He is a God who Leo equips you to carry out your calling. When we steep our hearts in this awareness and gratitude, weincreasingly enjoy His presencee.
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4. Worship with Reverence
God’s name is holy. His presence is sacred.
“Take off your sandals”—remove distractions, come humbly.
How to apply:
• Before you pray or read Scripture, pause. Acknowledge: “This is holy ground.”
• Create moments of silence in your day just to sit with God—not to ask, but to revere, adore. We have an adoration chapel for this very reason. Still, we can create for ourselves spaces in our house, in nature, at our favorite hiking places, or maybe our secret vacation spot..wherever it might be, come in the posture of your love and adoration to be at his feet. We see Mary doing this in the scriptures, and Jesus commends her for having made the better, might I say, the best choice.
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5. Embrace Your Identity in Light of His
Knowing “I AM” shapes who I am.
Our identity is defined not by our self-awareness (which is good to a certain extent) but by seeking Him, when our identity radically changes or transforms. Psalm 139 King David asks God to gaze into him so he is not just novel.
Gazing and thinking about himself. David shows us he wants God to come to him. I love how one of the new translations (TPT) says it ;
“God, I invite your searching gaze into my heart. Examine me through and through; find out everything hidden within me. Put me to the test and sift through all my anxious cares. See if there is any path of pain I’m walking on, and lead me back to your glorious, everlasting way— the path that brings me back to you.”
Psalms 139:23-24 TPT
How to apply:
• Instead of defining yourself by what you’ve done or what you lack, define yourself by who you are:
• “I am loved by I AM.”
• “I am sent by I AM.”
• “I am not alone—I AM is with me.”
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Reflection Prompt or Journal Entry Idea:
• Where in my life do I need to remember that God simply IS—present, enough, and holy?
Notes:
A theophany is a visible or tangible manifestation of God to human beings.
The word comes from the Greek:
• “theos” = God
• “phaino” = to appear or show
So, theophany literally means “God appears.”
