The Great I AM

Just after Christmas I went to Norway on what was for me a holiday of a lifetime. I travelled up into the arctic circle to a place called Andenes. The purpose of this holiday was twofold, one to see Orca whales in the wild, and two to see the Aurora Borealis.

Daylight hours were short with only a two-to-three-hour window of daylight, or twilight. We literally got up, had breakfast, went out on the water, and then came back again into darkness. On the first trip out on the water I was thrilled to spot my first of many Orcas and was delighted to see both Humpback and Fin Whales too. But it wasn’t until the middle night of my trip that I had an amazing encounter with God.

I’d gone on this trip with stirring question in my spirit, “who am I?” I’m sure it’s a question that many of us have asked, and are maybe asking even today. Who am I, that God would be interested in me, and would want to save me, heal me? Who am I, that He would want to use me to go and make disciples, and that He would love me? These are deep questions and cries of our hearts and it was with that cry that God met me.

We’d been told that the forecast for the Aurora wasn’t good, and there was an air of disappointment as we sat chatting. But then the owner of the guest house stepped outside and came in saying “It’s started. Come quickly”. So with a great flurry of putting on hats and coats, it was -8C, we all tumbled outside. We all stood staring up into the sky to witness the most amazing sight. We watched green and pink ribbons of light dance across the sky. As they danced, they faded and grew in their intensity. I found I had tears in my eyes and in my spirit I was saying “who am I?” Feeling all the weakness of my humanity and seeing the ways in which I so often fail, I heard the words “I AM WHO I AM”.

When Moses encountered God at the burning bush he asked the same question, “who am I?” He too saw all his weakness and failings and felt inadequate for the task. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8). He’s almighty God, full of power, might and glory. He’s the One who created the heavens and the earth, and knows each star by name. And yet He’s also the God who knows everything about us. He even knows the number of hairs on our head, and longs to have relationship with us. In that great statement that God makes “I AM WHO I AM” He’s saying it’s not about who Moses is or who we are. No, it’s all about who He is. So rather than focus on our humanity and weakness, lift your eyes to Almighty God, and see Who He is, and what we can be, in and through Him.

Prayer: Father, I recognise that when I see my weakness I try to cover it up, or hide behind it. I’m sorry, Father, that I waver in my relationship with You, and that I’ve been unwilling to face my weaknesses or to see the truth of who You are. Today I choose not to look at what I can’t do and who I am, but to look at what I can do, in and through You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.