Acuities, even such as may appear utterly insuperable. Moses himself was so discouraged by his want of success, that he complained of God as having disappointed and deceived him. But he succeeded at last : and the very difficulties which had discouraged him served but the more to illustrate the power and grace of God. So may we find it for a season : but we should bear in mind, that his word, which he has pledged to us, is immutable, and that his counsel shall stand, though earth and hell should combine to defeat it. Let us then " commit our every way to him ; " and, with a holy confidence, advance, " strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might."]
Exod. hi. 14. And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM :
and He said, Thus shall thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
IT is of great importance that Ministers should be considered as ambassadors of God. And that they should deliver nothing which they cannot enforce with, Thus saith the Lord. Without this, their word can have but little weight. But ministrations thus supported will produce the happiest effects. Moses was commissioned to offer deliverance to the op- pressed Israelites. But he rightly judged that they would ask, from whence he had his authority. He therefore inquired of God, what answer he should return. And received from God the direction recorded in the text.
To understand the words aright, we must consider,
I. The title God assumed —
The Deity had hitherto revealed himself to man by the name of God Almighty. Though he had been called Jehovah, he was not fully known by that name, even to his most highly-favoured servants3. He now was pleased to assume a title similar to that ; but, if possible, of still plainer import —
The name, I AM THAT I AM, represents him to be,
1. Self-existent —
a Exod. vi. 3.