READ: Exodus 3:13-22
“And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM...” – Exodus 3:14
The different names of God show the different attributes of God and illustrate the diverse ways He demonstrates His power to His creation. He introduced Himself differently to Abraham and Jacob. But He used another name when He introduced Himself to David. All through the Scriptures God uses different names as He appears to different people.
The name of God that is used in Genesis chapter one is Elohim. Elohim describes God as the Creator. Man’s creative ability is from God. The power of invention is Godgiven. The creation story therefore reveals God’s creative nature.
Later on in the Bible, we see God introducing Himself to Abraham (Genesis 17:1) as El Shaddai, that is, “the mighty, breasted one”. You see, the female breast meets every need of a baby. So God was saying that, “I am the Almighty One who has everything that you would ever need.”
At another time, we see God revealing Himself to Moses (Exodus 3:14). He described Himself as “Jehovah, I AM THAT I AM”. This means, “the God who is existing”. It also means “the Lord who keeps promises”. God was going to bring Moses and the Israelites into the Promised Land and He was telling him, “I am the God who keeps covenants and makes agreements. I don’t break my agreements.”
Clearly, God introduces Himself in different ways as different situations come up