Exodus 3:11-15
But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” He said, “I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” But Moses said to God, “If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ” God also said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you’: This is my name forever, and this my title for all generations. Exodus 3:11-15 (NRSVUE)
“But I don’t have a middle name!” I exclaimed to the Kindergarten teacher on my first day of school after asking me three times. The teacher’s phone call to my mom confirmed the same. My parents thought that Johanna Lorenzen was already a mouthful. I’m named after my German grandmother, but even she had a middle name. I wonder if my parents realized all the strife I would encounter through the years when people would insist that I must have a middle name.
Names are important.
When God appeared to Moses as a burning bush and commissioned him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, he is reluctant at first. Wouldn’t you be? Moses asks, “Who am I” to take on something so big? God reminds Moses that God’s name is “I am who I am.” A name that exudes eternal presence and power. If God says Moses can do this unimaginable thing, then so be it.
Names are important.
Over the years, my name has morphed from Johanna to Jo and from Lorenzen to Sheets. My current favorite name is Grandma. My TeamMate changed their name multiple times over the years. And, I’m guessing the Apostle Paul just didn’t like the name Saul. Or, maybe there’s more to that story.
Are names important?
Perhaps names for us humans are not nearly as important as our identities. Knowing who we are and whose we are is what matters more. Yet, God is God is God. Yesterday, today and tomorrow. When we forget about that, our lives can quickly become fragile. When we live our lives in the name of God, we no longer have to ask the question Moses asked, “Who am I” to do great things? Of course, we can!
Question for Reflection:
- Is your identity based on your name or how God wants to use you in this world?
Prayer:
God, thank you for your never-ending presence in my life and for knowing who I really am. May that give me strength to endure, courage to act boldly and joy to share with others. Even when they don’t know my name. I know yours and that’s what’s important. Amen.
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