I AM was promising to free them, and they could count on Him! It is similar to the New Testament expression in Revelation 1:8, “‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.’” This is true of Him for all time, but it would have been especially appropriate for a message in Moses’ day to a people in slavery and who could see no way out. When God identified Himself as I AM WHO I AM, He stated that, no matter when or where, He is there. He stands, ever-present and unchangeable, completely sufficient in Himself to do what He wills to do and to accomplish what He wills to accomplish. He promises that He will be what He will be that is, He will be the eternally constant God. His plans are not contingent upon any circumstances. God’s existence is not contingent upon anyone else.
It would be used in any number of normal situations: “I am watching the sheep,” “I am walking on the road,” or “I am his father.” However, when used as a stand-alone description, I AM is the ultimate statement of self-sufficiency, self-existence, and immediate presence. The word ehyeh is the first person common singular of the verb to be. The phrase translated “I am who I am” in Hebrew is ehyeh asher ehyeh. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you’” (Exodus 3:14). In response, Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” (Exodus 3:13). God appeared to Moses in the burning bush and told him to go to Egypt to lead the Israelites out of slavery.
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