The Law in 90 Days: Numbers 9-10
SCRIPTURE READING
John 8:58; I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I am!
This statement was earth-shattering, which is plain to see in the moments that follow. As soon
as Jesus speaks these words, His listeners pick up stones to stone Him! These words invoked
fanaticism –bloodthirstiness – in the people.
If we travel further back in time, we will meet up with a man named Moses whom God used to
deliver the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. While in Midian, Moses was confronted and called by
the Lord to deliver His people. And it is in this very encounter where we see why the people got
so upset at Jesus’ words. The Lord gave Moses the mission to appear before Pharaoh for the
release of the Jews. But Moses was worried about how the people would respond to him. What if
they asked for the name of the One who had sent him, what should he say? And God responded,
“I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” Jesus’
words to the people evoked an immediate recollection of the words God spoke to Moses. With this
sentence, Jesus equated Himself with God.
It was imperative that Jesus’ disciples came to have full faith in Him as the Son of God, having
oneness and equality with the Father. If we do not hold firmly to this truth, we cannot call ourselves
disciples. Remember, disciples take on the very beliefs of their rabbi. Jesus proclaimed clearly
that He and the Father were one; He had existed from time immemorial, just as the Father had. As
Christians, we need to stand up for the divinity of Christ. If we don’t really believe that Jesus Christ
was the Son of God who came from heaven to live on earth, and who died and rose from the
grave, our faith has absolutely no foundation.
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Meditate on Jesus’ divinity and why its truthfulness is so imperative to our faith. Do you fully
believe that He is who He says He is?
2. How should your belief in Christ and your belief that He is who He says He is affect the way
that you live? Listen in prayer about this.
3. Meditate on God’s self-given name, I AM. What does this mean? Why do you think He
expressed Himself with these words?
