Episode Overview

Podcast: Things Unseen with Sinclair B. Ferguson
Episode: Knowing More of God
Date: March 4, 2026
Host: Sinclair B. Ferguson (A)
Theme:
This episode of Things Unseen explores the nature of knowing God, drawing from biblical revelation and the unfolding understanding of God’s identity throughout Scripture. Sinclair B. Ferguson reflects on the meaning behind God’s name, “I am” (Yahweh), and considers how believers progressively grow in their understanding and relationship with God.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Challenge of Describing God

• Ferguson begins by highlighting the complexity of describing God. When asked, “What is God like?” he notes that it’s challenging because God is fundamentally unlike anything else.
  • Quote [00:18]: "He's actually not like anything. He's God. It works the other way around. What he creates and what he does are like what he is."
• He stresses the importance of beginning with God, not creation, if our theology is to be God-honoring and biblically faithful.

God’s Self-Revelation in Scripture

• Ferguson reviews the Old Testament’s use of the divine name, Yahweh (I am), and connects it to Exodus 3 and 6.
  • God tells Moses that He was known by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as "God Almighty," but only now reveals Himself as “I am.”
• He explores theories about the use of “Yahweh” in Genesis:
  • Perhaps earlier generations didn’t truly grasp its significance.
  • Perhaps Moses, after the Exodus, retroactively used “Yahweh” in Genesis to show continuity of God’s character and covenant.
  • Quote [01:05]: "Perhaps what these words mean is that although they knew the covenant name Yahweh, they couldn't understand its meaning the way Moses and his generation would..."
• Key insight: The patriarchs knew God's covenant name, but later events (like the Exodus) deepened the understanding of who God is.

Progressive and Cumulative Revelation

• The self-revelation of God in the Bible is progressive—each generation learns more about Him.
  • Abraham’s knowledge of God was real but not as full as Moses’; Moses’ was less comprehensive than Isaiah’s; and not even Isaiah grasped God as fully as Christians now do through Jesus Christ.
  • Quote [02:12]: "That's actually how God's revelation of himself works in the Bible. It's progressive and it's cumulative until he fully reveals himself as the I am in our Lord Jesus Christ."
  • He references Hebrews, noting how God previously revealed Himself in various times and fragmentary ways.

The Ongoing Journey of Knowing God

• The episode encourages believers: because God is infinite ("the great I am"), there is no end to growing in the knowledge of Him.
  • Even in perfection, believers will never exhaust the depths of knowing God.
  • Quote [03:11]: "Even when we know him fully and sinlessly as human beings, we know that he's even greater than we can comprehend."
• The Christian life is an ongoing journey of knowing, appreciating, and loving God more deeply.

Richard of Chichester’s Prayer

• Ferguson closes with a reference to the famous prayer by Richard of Chichester:
  • "To see Thee more clearly, to love Thee more dearly, and to follow Thee more nearly."
• He encourages listeners to make this heartfelt aspiration their prayer for today.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the ineffability of God:
  "He's actually not like anything. He's God." (Sinclair Ferguson, [00:18])
• On the unfolding understanding of God’s name:
  "They couldn't understand its meaning the way Moses and his generation would when they experienced the promises of God coming to pass with mighty power in the events of the Exodus." ([01:05])
• Progressive revelation:
  "That's actually how God's revelation of himself works in the Bible. It's progressive and it's cumulative until he fully reveals himself as the I am in our Lord Jesus Christ." ([02:12])
• Encouragement on spiritual growth:
  "Even when we know him fully and sinlessly as human beings, we know that he's even greater than we can comprehend." ([03:11])
• Closing prayer reference:
  "To see Thee more clearly, to love Thee more dearly, and to follow Thee more nearly." ([03:38])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:08 — Introduction to the challenge of describing God
• 00:54 — Explanation of the name “I am” (Yahweh) and God’s self-revelation
• 01:05 — Discussion of the implications of God’s name through different generations
• 02:12 — The progressiveness of biblical revelation culminating in Christ
• 03:11 — Reflection on the unending nature of knowing God
• 03:38 — Reference to Richard of Chichester’s prayer and encouragement to listeners

Conclusion

This episode invites Christians to embrace the lifelong, never-complete journey of knowing God. Through Scripture, Ferguson shows that each generation discovers more of God’s greatness and that even now, through Christ, we stand in a privileged place—yet there will always be more of God to discover, appreciate, and love. The practice of seeking to “see Him more clearly, love Him more dearly, and follow Him more nearly” is held up as an enduring prayer and pursuit for every believer.