Names are important, Before this moment, God was known as the God of Abraham (and Isaac, and Sarah!)
The God who promises the stars to Abraham….
But here is Moses, In Midian, encountering God. Having the Burning bush experience, starting his relationship with God. Where just seeing God’s magnificence isn’t enough, being the God
Most of us would LOVE this moment: this compelling, overwhelming, this is where it ALL begins. But Moses, dares to ask questions…why? I think its because he is a human. A human being who was made to name things, a human being who needs to know…
And Moses has an identity crises. A human-what-is-the-meaning-of-my-life-and-who-am-I-anyway Identity crises. Moses, who has been living in Midian, after being born a Hebrew slave and raised as an Egyptian Prince. No wonder he’s confused….he asks who Am I to do this?
So God replies….don’t worry your MY messenger, and I PROMISE I’ll be with you the whole way. Don’t Worry.
And here is where Moses is human, again, asking the next, logical question. Ok, then so who are you to come with me? Not, what’s your name…but “Who are you?”
(Just like Jacob asking how it is he could find God here?)
And God says “I Am, what I AM” This is at a time when most people, including the Egyptians, had different Gods for different things, but this God is claiming to be enough. Plus YWHW in Hebrew also has a future tone–I AM, WHAT I AM, and I WILL BE, what I WILL BE. Implying that God will be God, but in order to find out more, you need to sign up for….
(Here is a cute handy-dandy ref. chart to help us see the process of Call)
Moses stuttered before people, but not before God. Is that the power of presence? Or is it possible that people are scarier than God sometimes?