Throughout the history of the Jewish people, the name of God is considered sacred and precious that it cannot and should not be said, written, and used carelessly. That’s how people in those days treated His divine name - with caution and reverential fear.

Our God does not run out of names. It is impossible to describe Him in one word. There are about 1000 names assigned to our God of the Bible. YHWH is His true name. It is said that this 4 Hebrew letters are imbedded in man’s physical DNA, according to some Christian scientists to prove that man is the only being created in the image of God.

The name YHWh is considered sacred and powerful. It was a name the priests and the prophets used very cautiously, so as not to put His name in vain. This Name was replaced with Adonai and Elohim. The difference among the 3 names is YHWH, the great I Am, is the Name that can only be used and be ascribed to the only one and true God of the Bible. However, the other names of God, Adonai and Elohim can be used and assigned to identify other false deities or gods.

The name “I AM” was first introduced by Jehovah during the time He appeared to Moses in the burning bush, when He answered Moses that His name was “I AM that I AM.” it is interesting that the ONE who said He was the “I Am” was also sent by another “I Am.”. This proves the pre-incarnate appearance of Christ in the Old Testament. He appeared as the burning bush that would not burn. He is the eternal WORD, so that all the spoken WORDS of God in the Old Testament are Words uttered of Jesus Christ. He claimed equality with the Heavenly Father, the Great I Am.

Lesson/Application:

“I AM” is a perfect and wonderful name to describe who God really is and how He sustains us:

1. He is ever present at anytime, all the time, and at the same time in places where He is needed.

2. He is the source and author of all things good. He calls Himself:

⁃ I AM the bread of life

⁃ I AM the living water

⁃ I AM the resurrection and the life

⁃ I AM the light of the world

⁃ I AM A friend closer than a brother

⁃ I AM Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last.

3. He is aware of what we go through in life. He is ready to rescue and to save. He is not early or late. He is always on time.

4. He maintains this world and this universe with His power. Because of the Great I Am, everything stays in place until such time and He wants all these destroyed and transformed.

Conclusion:

Jesus Christ, the Eternal Word is the Great I AM - the Alpha and the Omega. He is the beginning and the end. That means that from the start and to wherever He leads us, He is always there. Whatever He begins in us, He will always complete.