The Wonder of God’s Name

Moses was about eighty years old as he quietly led his father-in-law’s flock across the desert to the base of Mt. Horeb. After his escape from Egypt, he had been dwelling in that region with his wife, Zippo’rah, and their son for about forty years. He was probably expecting to slip peacefully into retirement.

Then a burning bush caught his attention, and as he watched it burn for awhile, he realized that it was not being consumed, it kept burning without diminishing, as if connected to some permanent source of energy. What a wonder! As he drew near, he was captivated by a voice that came from the flame calling him by name. Then said the voice, “I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob… I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt… so I know well what they are suffering. Therefore, I have come down to rescue them from the hands of the Egyptians and lead them out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3: 6-8).

At that point, Moses may have thought, “Great idea, God; but I have to get Jethro’s sheep back to their pasture.”

“Come, I will send you to Pharoah that you may bring forth my people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:10). 

Moses was probably shocked. Remembering how he had killed an Egyptian some forty years earlier and had to flee from the wrath of Pharoh, Moses tried to get out of this commission from God. “Who am I that I should go to Pharoah…?” (3:11). “Who are you that I should tell the Hebrews…?” (3:13). “But they will not believe me or listen to my voice” (4:1). “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent… but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue” (4:10). “Oh, my Lord, I pray, send someone else!” (4:13). 

But each time God responds to his fearful resistance with reassurance. God’s most profound response was to Moses’ second question: “Who are you?”  God revealed His name to Moses: “I AM WHO I AM” (3:14). This translation of the original Hebrew word (YHWH) emphasizes that God is Infinite Being, the One whose essence is to exist, without beginning or end, independently of all other things that exist (St. Thomas Aquinas Summa Theologiae 1, 13, 11). “Alternative translations of the divine name proposed by other scholars include ‘I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE’, which is thought to express that God will be with Moses in his future mission (as in 3:12 and 4:12) and ‘I CAUSE TO BE WHAT COMES TO BE’, which points to God’s role as the creator of all things” (Scott Hahn, Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, footnote, p. 128).
  
God’s name, like God’s identity, is both revealing and mysterious. The same could be said for the manner in which God calls people into mission. Like Moses, we may feel afraid, unworthy or ill-equipped. But God does not call the equipped, He equips the called. And God knows there are many people afflicted in our world, suffering from various forms of bondage. He has come down in Jesus to rescue them from the slavery of sin and death, and to lead them to the Promised Land of heaven. Together we are the Body of Christ through whom He works His saving deeds. 

So as we continue our Lenten journey from slavery to freedom, let us be willing to have our desert retreat disturbed. The God who always IS may be trying to get our attention in ways dazzling or normal. Let us dare to draw near with open hearts. He may call us by name to help rescue those who are variously afflicted. He knows our fears, and insecurities, so He calls us to trust in Him. For He is with us now and will be with us when we step out in faith. He seems to enjoy accomplishing miracles through us, be they great or small.  His story of salvation is also ours. What a wonder!