Podcast Summary: "I Am Who I Am"

Podcast: Things Unseen with Sinclair B. Ferguson
Host: Sinclair B. Ferguson (Ligonier Ministries)
Date: February 25, 2025

Episode Overview

In this devotional episode, Sinclair B. Ferguson explores the profound self-disclosure of God to Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3, focusing on the significance of the divine name "I am who I am." Ferguson reflects on what this revelation means for understanding God's eternal, unchanging nature versus human transience, and encourages listeners to contemplate the mystery and comfort found in God's self-existence.

Key Discussion Points

1. Moses’ Question and God’s Monumental Answer

• Ferguson begins by recalling Moses' question to God at the burning bush: "Who is he? What is God like?"
• God's response is central: "I am who I am. ... Say this to the people of Israel: I am has sent me to you." (00:08–01:05)
  • This declaration establishes God's eternal identity and self-sufficiency.

2. The Reverence for God’s Name

• Ferguson notes how the Jewish people treat this name with deep reverence, often substituting "Hashem" ("the Name") in public readings rather than pronouncing it. (01:05–01:35)
• He expresses admiration for this respect but underscores that God intended for His Name to be known, spoken, and proclaimed to all generations and the ends of the earth.
  • Quote: "He meant his people to know him as I am, and to call Him I am. Not to hide his name, but to know it, to say it, and to proclaim it..." (01:21)

3. The Mystery Behind “I AM”

• Ferguson unpacks the challenging, often mysterious nature of God's self-description.
  • Human experience is "becoming" and changing; God simply is. (02:00–03:05)
  • “We became, we were becoming. ... But God is simply I am. He is the great I am. He didn't become. He's not becoming, and he has no ending. God simply is.” (02:44)
• He emphasizes the incomprehensibility of God:
  • "However simple the words I am seem to be, they're really beyond us to grasp." (03:14)
  • "If I try to think simply of that name, my mind begins to reel and stagger, doesn't yours? ... The harder I try to understand one who is without beginning or ending ... the more I'm likely to get a headache." (03:30)

4. God’s Self-Existence vs. Human Experience

• Humans are defined by beginnings and ends—by becoming and ceasing.
• God alone is self-existent, uncaused, unchanging:
  • "How can there be anything that doesn't have a beginning, that doesn't have a prior cause, Someone who simply is? When I think of that, I realize it's beyond me." (04:10)

5. God’s Relational Purpose in Revealing His Name

• Despite the mystery, Ferguson points out God's desire for His people to know Him and to recognize His concern for their needs.
  • "I am wanted Moses and his people to know who he really is. ... He saw their need and he cared about them, and he was going to save them." (04:40)
• Some scholars suggest "I am who I am" might mean: “I am exactly who I will be in what I'm about to do,” connecting God’s nature to His saving actions. (05:00)
  • "To know God better, Moses needed to know both what he said and what he would do." (05:19)

6. Grace and Revelation

• Ferguson ends by noting that Christians today, by God’s grace, know even more than Moses did about God’s redemptive character—a theme to be explored in future episodes. (05:35)
  • “Only by God's grace, you and I know so much more than even Moses did. But more of that tomorrow.” (05:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On God's Name and Its Purpose:

  “He meant his people to know him as I am, and to call Him I am. Not to hide his name, but to know it, to say it, and to proclaim it throughout all generations and even to the ends of the earth.” (01:21)

• On the Impossibility of Fully Grasping God:

  “However simple the words I am seem to be, they're really beyond us to grasp. Truly, his greatness, none can fathom is just too much for our little minds to be able to comprehend.” (03:14)

• On Human Limits vs. Divine Self-Existence:

  “How can there be anything that doesn't have a beginning, that doesn't have a prior cause, Someone who simply is? When I think of that, I realize it's beyond me.” (04:10)

• On God’s Purpose and Care:

  “He saw their need and he cared about them, and he was going to save them.” (04:55)

Important Timestamps

• 00:08 – Introduction to the burning bush and Moses’ question
• 01:05–01:35 – Reverence for the divine name and Jewish tradition
• 02:44 – Contrast between human "becoming" and God’s "being"
• 03:14–03:30 – The incomprehensibility of ‘I AM’
• 04:40–05:19 – God’s intent to be known and His care for His people
• 05:45 – Closing thoughts and anticipation of the next episode

Summary

This episode reflects deeply on the revelation of God's name "I AM," highlighting its significance for understanding God's eternal nature and His desire to be both known and proclaimed by His people. Sinclair B. Ferguson draws out the mystery and comfort embedded in God’s self-existence, challenging listeners to contemplate these truths while assuring them of God’s ongoing relational care—a foundation for Christian faith and hope.