This is Spoken Gospel.

We’re dedicated to seeing
Jesus in all of scripture.

In each episode, we see
what’s happening in a Biblical text

and how it sheds light
on Jesus and his gospel.

Let’s jump in.

God’s people are slaves in Egypt
when they cry out to God for help.

And God answers their cries.

His answer comes by saving a Hebrew baby
from certain death, raising him to power in Egypt,

and then bringing him out of Egypt so
that God might put a powerful call on his life.

That man is Moses.

While tending sheep, God appears to Moses
and starts speaking out of a burning bush.

The voice identifies itself as the God of
Moses’ forefathers - Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

He tells Moses that he is going to rescue
his people from their oppression in Egypt

and that he is going
to use Moses to do it.

Moses has a lot of questions, but his most
important question has to do with God’s name.

Moses asks what he is
supposed to call this God.

God’s answer is “I Am.”

In the context of this passage,
that name means at least two things.

First, it reminds us of
all the times God says,

“I Am the God of Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob,” in this conversation.

He is the same God who spoke to Abraham
and promised to make him a great nation.

God also used this name when
he said, “I am with you,” to Moses.

God is going to make good on his promises
to Abraham by accomplishing them with

his very presence.

The good news found in
God’s name goes even further.

For the whole world, ourselves
included, have been in Israel’s position;

Crying out to God to save us from
our slave masters: Death and sin.

And what happens when God
hears the cries of the oppressed?

He shows up!

Jesus was with us in flesh and blood.

Jesus was with us in the
humble form of a human.

The Great I Am came to us.

Which is why the ultimate expression
of God’s name - I Am - is found in Jesus.

Not only is Jesus the God of Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob, he is their promised descendent

who would accomplish
the promises made to them.

Jesus is both the promise maker
and the promise keeper.

He who made the promise
to Eve and all her children

became one of Eve’s
children to keep that promise.

And the ultimate saving
miracle he performed

was not a sign or wonder external
to himself, though he did perform those.

The ultimate miracle he performed
was his death and resurrection.

That’s how he is with us!
That’s how he keeps his promises!

That’s how he saves us!

Through his death and resurrection, Jesus
can say I am with you to keep my promises.

I pray that his Spirit gives you
eyes to see the nearness of the God

who is with us to keep his promises, and
Jesus as the true embodiment of the I Am,

who came even nearer in flesh and
blood to complete every promise he made.