“‘I will’ in the Middle of ‘I Am'”
February 28, 2016
“I’m going to do it! You can count on me!” What a comforting reminder to us when we need to be rescued from a tight spot or jam of some sort! We are comforted to know that a capable and competent “someone” will be true to their word and help us out of our unpleasant circumstances.
While the Israelites were experiencing their Exodus, they very much needed to hear, “I’m going to do it! You can count on me!” Centuries of slavery caused them to think of themselves as slaves instead of as people of the covenant. Pharaoh was bigger in their eyes than God was and they needed a refresher course in God’s name and His willingness to help them out of their bondage. They needed to hear God’s “I will” in the middle of His “I Am”.
So in Exodus 6:6, we read how God reminded Moses of His great name:
“Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the LORD…”
And then in seven separate “I will” promises, God says in His own way, “I’m going to do it. You can count on Me!”:
I will bring you out
I will rescue you
I will redeem you
I will take you as my people
I will be your God
I will bring you into the land
I will give it to you as a heritage
“…and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession.”
Exodus 6:6-8
Then God concludes by saying again in verse 8, “’I am the LORD.’” God placed His “I will” in the bookends of His “I AM” and goes to the furthest extent possible to confirm His covenant with the children of Israel. By reminding Moses of the great name of God, He reminds Moses of His covenant making and covenant keeping name!
“I am going to do it! You can count on Me.”
Many times, we, like the Israelites, find it difficult to trust God and believe He is for us! We believe in God, but we don’t always believe God. However, He wants us to know Him as a personal, promise making and promise keeping God, whom we can trust in everything. By what name do you know Him?