It's Not a Typo

One of the things that irks me the most is reading back over books I've published and stumbling over a typo. Here on this blog, the typos are a lot easier to fix -- a quick click, a deletion, an insertion, and an update. When the words are in print on a page, they remain there. I can fix them on the draft I've submitted to the publisher, but the pages already in the hands of my readers remain unfixed -- a glaring error -- and my perfectionistic nature cringes.

There's a phrase present in John 8:31-59, today's passage, that comes across as a typo, but the fact that it isn't a typo is of essential importance to... well... everything. Faith, eternity, repentance, salvation, hope, glory.

Here it is, you ready? That key phrase, the seeming-typo that holds all the weight of the universe, past, present, and future: "Before Abraham was born... I Am."

The verb tense warning sirens in my brain go off (this is what it's like to be a word-nerd). ;) In steady, rhythmic beats, the garish clanging resounds: was, was, was. Evacuate the building, emergency services enroute. Was, was, was.

Way back in Exodus, Moses is standing before a burning bush that's not burning up, having a debate with the God of the universe. Moses has been tending his father-in-law's flocks, sees this strange sight, and goes to investigate. When he reaches the burning-bush-that's-not-burning-up, he hears a Voice from inside the bush. "Moses! Moses!"

Uh...

"Here I am," he says. He's talking to a bush. Clearly, it's not just a bush.

The Voice says: "Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." 

Ah. God is talking to him.

God confirms this immediately. "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob."

Both here and over in John 8:31-59, there's a specific identification that is occurring: a Deity proclaims His identity. This has never happened before with any other deity. No other god has shaken awake from his stony slumber, no Ba'al has opened his eyes and declared himself. God and God alone is the only One Who has identified Himself to mankind.

He doesn't have to, certainly. Who are we? His creation to whom He has no obligation to show Himself.

But... He does.

Here in Exodus, He tells Moses to go back to Egypt -- the place from which Moses has fled in terror for his life -- walk up to his adoptive grandfather who could easily kill him on sight, and demand that the Pharaoh let the Israelites -- the Egyptians' entire slave labor force -- exit stage left. Simple enough task. Why is Moses stalling?

They have a little back-and-forth. "Moses, go."

"But I'm a peon. Gramps isn't going to believe me."

"I'll be with you. Go."

"But Who should I tell the Israelites sent me?"

God says: "I Am Who I Am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I Am has sent me to you.'"

God doesn't say: "I Am Who I have always been," although that is true; He is unchanging and eternal. God doesn't say. "I Am Who I was."

He says: "I Am Who I Am. I Am has sent me to you." I Am is My Name. I Am now. I Am yesterday. I Am tomorrow. I Am at the beginning. I Am at the end.

Back in John 8, Jesus has just had a looooong conversation with some Jews where they are discussing parentage. The Jews are angry, because Jesus has declared the identification of His Father, Who just happens to be the God of Abraham. "But He's our father," they say.

Jesus, not to be blunt, but... well, to be blunt... declares their statement hogwash. "Um, no. If you were Abraham's children, then you would do the things Abraham did (demonstrate implicit faith and obedience, for which Abraham is well known). As it is, you are determined to kill Me, a Man Who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the things your own father does."

Ah! Another father! Jesus identifies this second paternity in John 8:44: "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

The contrast between the two fathers mentioned is as deep as the chasm created when Satan and his angels were thrown from heaven -- God the Father on one side of the chasm, Satan the father of lies on the other. That chasm is deep and eternal and un-crossable...

Except for one single bridge, the narrow, splintered, wooden, blood-spattered beam of the cross where Jesus died.

The Jews are throwing a hissy-fit because Jesus says that His Father is God. Jesus sticks to the truth. "You claim you are Abraham's children, and Abraham himself rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day."

The sound of whooshing splits the air as the concept flies way over their heads. "You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews say to Jesus, "and You have seen Abraham!" Pfffff...

"I tell you the truth," Jesus answers, "before Abraham was born, I Am."

Think about what this means:

I Am before the concept of time even begins. How mind-blowing is that? 
I Am when the Father's voice rumbles into the dark expanse: "Let there be light."
I Am when Abraham walks out into the starry night and looks up at the sky and receives a covenant promise.
I Am when the Israelites take a deep breath and step into the path that leads through the sea while a mountain of water stands up on either side to let them pass.
I Am when David crouches next to the creek and looks for five smooth stones while a giant taunts him not far away.
I Am when Elisha watches a chariot and horses made of fire sweep out of heaven, pull his mentor and friend Elijah on board, and gallop away as Elijah's cloak loosens and lands at Elisha's feet.
I Am when Esther calls for Mordecai to fast and pray as she prepares to confront a king to advocate for her people.
I Am when Daniel feels the wet nose and hot breath of a lion sniff his side.
I Am when Mary hands her newborn baby to Joseph to place in an animal's feeding trough so she can gain just a few moments of rest.
I Am when the hammers clang rhythmically against spikes that drive through wrists and feet and into wood.
I Am when Roman guards watch the dark morning split with light, the earth shake, and the huge stone that covers the tomb's entrance roll away.
I Am when Paul sits in a dark dungeon next to Silas and leads a praise and worship service.
I Am when John looks up from his parchment on the isle of Patmos and sees the throne room of heaven.
I Am in 2021 during a pandemic when sickness and death are all around.
I Am when the world seems to have lost its ever-lovin' mind.
I Am to the very end of time, when the clouds roll back like a scroll and I Am appears to take His church home.

Do we ever think about how thankful we are that "I Am" is not a typo?