Identity

13Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” – Exodus 3:13-14 (ESV).

A thought hit me as I was thinking about this verse. God’s identity was based solely and purely on Himself. “I AM WHO I AM” could also be translated “I AM WHAT I AM.”

Not so with me. I’m always looking for something outside of myself to base my identity. If someone would ask me who I am, I would answer things like: child of God, husband, father, friend, youth director, etc. My identity is always based in relation to someone else or something else.

Not that this is a bad thing. On the contrary, I think it was God’s design. “26Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.’” God designed us to find our identity in Him.

My struggle is that I so often base my identity in other things, especially things I’m good at (relative to other people) or try to be good at. In a way, I live my life as if I have to earn my identity. I’m not just a child of God; I want to be a good Christian. I’m not just a husband, father, friend, or youth director; I want to be a good husband, father, friend, and youth director, etc.

The reality is that God chose me before the world began (Ephesians 1:4) and loved me even while I was a sinner (Romans 5:8). There is nothing I can do to gain my identity in Christ; He already did it for me!

God's relentless pursuit

“Now write down for yourselves this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness for me against them. 20 When I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, the land I promised on oath to their forefathers, and when they eat their fill and thrive, they will turn to other gods and worship them, rejecting me and breaking my covenant. 21 And when many disasters and difficulties come upon them, this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten by their descendants. I know what they are disposed to do, even before I bring them into the land I promised them on oath.” – Deuteronomy 31:19-21 (NIV)

These are the words from God to Moses as he is about to pass on his leadership of Israel to Joshua. God’s words here blow me away. God, knowing the Israelites’ disposition to reject him as king and serve other gods instead, still goes with the Israelites to conquer the Promised Land. But because of His love for them, he tells Moses to teach them a song to remind them of who He is and what He has done for them; I’m presuming in hopes that they might turn back to Him. Wow! God relentlessly and tenaciously pursues those who are His.