🌿 Week 25 — Y: Yahweh
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🔥 I AM
A Women of Wisdom Bible Study
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📖 Key Scripture
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“And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM...”
— Exodus 3:14 (KJV)
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🌟 Big Idea
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Because God is Yahweh, He is the eternal, self-existent and faithful God who is always present with His people.
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🌿 Welcome to the Women of Wisdom Table
Trudy stood at the front with her Bible open and a small smile on her face.
Trudy: “Good evening, Women of Wisdom.”
I have the privilege of facilitating for my mom, Gale, this week.
Abigail: “No pressure at all.”
Trudy: “Thank you, Debbie. Very comforting.”
The ladies laughed.
Trudy: “Whether you are joining us for the very first time, have been here every week, or are returning after some time away, you are welcome.”
Come as you are. Open your Bible. Pull up a chair. There is room for you here.
Trudy: “Last week, Laura helped us lift our eyes as we studied X — eXalted.”
“We were reminded that what feels big to us is still beneath the God who is above all.”
“Today we come to perhaps one of the most personal and profound names God reveals about Himself.”
YAHWEH
Trudy: “Pastor Penny, the table is yours.”
🙏 P — PRAY
Invite God to help us know Him more deeply.
Trudy: “Vernice, would you open our study in prayer?”
Vernice: “Yes.”
Yahweh,
Thank You that You are the great I AM.
You are eternal, self-existent, faithful and present.
Help us to seek You more than we seek explanations.
Teach us to rest in Your presence, trust Your promises and walk faithfully with You.
Open our understanding as we study Your Word and reveal more of who You are.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
🔥 The Lesson Begins
Pastor Penny wrote two words on the board:
YAHWEH
I AM
Pastor Penny: “Today we need to move slowly.”
“We are not merely studying an attribute such as wisdom or victory.”
“We are considering the personal covenant name by which God reveals Himself in Scripture.”
Agneta: “So this name tells us something about who God is, not simply what He does.”
Pastor Penny: “Exactly.”
Yahweh is connected with God’s declaration to Moses:
I AM THAT I AM.
God does not receive existence from anyone.
He was not created.
He did not begin.
He is not becoming God.
He does not depend upon creation in order to be complete.
He simply is.
Barbara: “So everything else exists because God gives it existence, but God Himself depends on nothing outside Himself.”
Pastor Penny: “Precisely. The theological term is aseity—God’s self-existence.”
🔥 At the Burning Bush
Pastor Penny: “Now imagine Moses.”
He is tending sheep.
He sees a bush burning.
But the bush is not consumed.
He approaches.
And God calls him by name.
Debbie: “Moses, Moses.”
Pastor Penny: “Yes.”
Moses is then called to something far larger than himself.
And almost immediately, Moses begins asking questions.
Maria: “That sounds familiar.”
Pastor Penny: “It should.”
Who am I?
What if they do not believe me?
What shall I say?
Moses sees his inadequacy.
But God does not begin by telling Moses how impressive Moses is.
God says:
“Certainly I will be with thee.”
— Exodus 3:12
Laura: “So God answers Moses’ inadequacy with His presence.”
Pastor Penny: “Exactly.”
Moses asks, in effect, “Who am I?”
God’s answer is not primarily, “Here is who you are.”
It is:
“I will be with you.”
Hermione: “Then God’s presence becomes more important than Moses’ confidence in himself.”
Pastor Penny: “Precisely.
📖 R — READ
Listen carefully to what God reveals about Himself.
Pastor Penny: “We will hear a substantial portion of Exodus 3 because the name is best understood within the scene in which God reveals it.”
📖 Exodus 3:1–15
Antonia read:
“Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian:
and he led the flock to the backside of the desert,
and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.”
Anne continued:
“And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush:
and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.”
Cheryl read:
“And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight,
why the bush is not burnt.”
Cassandra D. continued:
“And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see,
God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses.
And he said, Here am I.”
Cassandra P. read:
“And he said, Draw not nigh hither:
put off thy shoes from off thy feet,
for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.”
Hazel continued:
“Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham,
the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.”
Jacintha read:
“And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt,
and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters;
for I know their sorrows;”
Jesmyn continued:
“And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians,
and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large,
unto a land flowing with milk and honey...”
Melanie read:
“Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me:
and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.”
Michelle continued:
“Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh,
that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.”
Lilly read:
“And Moses said unto God, Who am I,
that I should go unto Pharaoh,
and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
Claudia continued:
“And he said, Certainly I will be with thee;
and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee:
When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt,
ye shall serve God upon this mountain.”
Alynthia read:
“And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel,
and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you;
and they shall say to me, What is his name?
what shall I say unto them?”
Theresa continued:
“And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM:
and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel,
I AM hath sent me unto you.”
Veron finished:
“And God said moreover unto Moses,
Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel,
The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham,
the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,
hath sent me unto you:
this is my name for ever,
and this is my memorial unto all generations.”
📖 Psalm 68:4
Maria read:
“Sing unto God, sing praises to his name:
extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH,
and rejoice before him.”
📖 Isaiah 42:8
Abigail read:
“I am the LORD: that is my name:
and my glory will I not give to another,
neither my praise to graven images.”
📖 John 8:58
Debbie read:
“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Before Abraham was, I am.”
The room settled into silence.
🔍 O — OBSERVE
What does the text reveal?
Pastor Penny: “Before we explain, let us observe. What do you notice?”
Cassandra D.: “God sees, hears and knows the suffering of His people.”
Pastor Penny: “Yes.”
Jacintha: “God calls Moses personally by name.”
Pastor Penny: “Important.”
Agneta: “The name is connected with permanence—‘this is my name for ever.’”
Pastor Penny: “Exactly.”
Hermione: “And before Moses receives the full plan, he receives the promise of God’s presence.”
Pastor Penny: “Yes.”
- God reveals Himself personally.
- God calls Moses by name.
- God sees, hears and knows His people’s suffering.
- God promises His presence.
- God sends those He calls.
- His name points to His eternal existence.
- God remains faithful to His covenant.
- His identity depends on nothing outside Himself.
Vernice: “God’s greatness does not make Him distant. The self-existent God still comes near.”
Pastor Penny: “That is an excellent observation.”
💡 M — MEANING
What does the name Yahweh reveal?
Pastor Penny: “The name Yahweh points us toward several profound truths.”
YAHWEH IS ETERNAL.
YAHWEH IS SELF-EXISTENT.
YAHWEH IS FAITHFUL.
YAHWEH IS PRESENT.
God has no beginning.
God has no end.
He does not depend on creation.
He is not incomplete.
He does not need something outside Himself in order to remain God.
Barbara: “So when we say God is sufficient, we mean that literally. He lacks nothing.”
Pastor Penny: “Yes.”
But Yahweh is not merely a philosophical statement about existence.
He is the covenant God who reveals Himself to His people.
He remembers His promises.
He acts in faithfulness.
He comes near.
Cheryl: “So the name speaks both of His independence from creation and His commitment to His people.”
Pastor Penny: “Exactly.”
And John 8:58 gives the study another dimension.
Jesus says:
“Before Abraham was, I am.”
Michelle: “Jesus does not say, ‘Before Abraham was, I was.’”
Pastor Penny: “Correct.”
His language deliberately echoes the divine self-identification.
The great I AM revealed to Moses is not merely a God of ancient history.
He is.
🔥 What Moses Needed Most
Pastor Penny: “Let us return to Moses’ question.”
“Who am I?”
It is a reasonable question.
Moses knows his weakness.
He knows Pharaoh’s power.
He knows the assignment is beyond him.
Tessie: “And God never argues that Moses is actually stronger than he thinks.”
Pastor Penny: “Exactly.”
God shifts the centre of the question.
The issue is not whether Moses is sufficient.
The issue is whether the God who goes with Moses is sufficient.
Claudia: “Then inadequacy does not automatically disqualify us if God is the One who has called us.”
Pastor Penny: “Correct.”
Alynthia: “But neither does calling make self-dependence acceptable. Moses still has to go in dependence on God.”
Pastor Penny: “Precisely.”
God does not always answer our insecurity by making us feel bigger.
Sometimes He answers it by showing us that He is enough.
❤️ P — PRACTICE
Live with an awareness of God’s presence.
Pastor Penny: “We often want God to give us a complete explanation before we move.”
“But Moses receives something more fundamental.”
“I will be with thee.”
Throughout this week, pause before:
- making a decision,
- beginning a difficult conversation,
- walking into an uncertain situation,
- responding when you feel inadequate,
- doing something that requires courage,
- or simply entering an ordinary moment.
Quietly remind yourself:
The great I AM is with me.
Hazel: “That does not mean every situation becomes easy.”
Pastor Penny: “No.”
It means you do not enter it alone.
Veron: “And sometimes the awareness of His presence changes us before the circumstance changes.”
Pastor Penny: “Very often.”
💎 T — TREASURE
Hold one truth close.
Pastor Penny: “Our central truth comes directly from God’s revelation.”
I AM THAT I AM.
Exodus 3:14
Other truths worth carrying:
- God is eternal.
- God is self-existent.
- God is faithful.
- God is sufficient.
- God is present.
- The great I AM is with me.
Jesmyn: “I’m taking ‘God is present.’ It makes the name feel very personal.”
Abigail: “Mine is ‘God is sufficient.’ If He is enough, I do not have to be.”
Debbie: “That one will preach.
💬 S — SHARE
Help another woman remember who is with her.
Pastor Penny: “Encouragement does not always require an explanation.”
Lilly: “Sometimes you can simply remind someone, ‘God is with you.’”
Pastor Penny: “Yes.”
Cassandra P.: “Especially when they are facing something they cannot control.”
Pastor Penny: “Exactly.”
“The great I AM is with you.”
“God has not forgotten you.”
“God is still faithful.”
“You do not have to know everything before you trust Him.
🔥 Before We Step Away from the Bush
Pastor Penny closed his Bible.
Pastor Penny: “Moses leaves this encounter with questions still unanswered.”
“He does not yet know every conversation he will have with Pharaoh.”
“He does not know how long the process will take.”
“He does not know every obstacle ahead.”
“But he knows something he did not know before.”
Theresa: “Who is sending him.”
Pastor Penny: “Yes.”
And he knows who will be with him.
Before Moses knew what God would do,
he learned who God is.
Melanie: “And that had to be enough for the next step.”
Pastor Penny: “Exactly.”
🙏 Closing Prayer
Trudy: “Alynthia, would you close our teaching time in prayer?”
Alynthia: “Yes.”
Yahweh, our great I AM,
Thank You that You have no beginning and no end.
Thank You that You depend on no one, yet You choose to draw near to Your people.
When we feel inadequate, remind us that Your sufficiency is greater than our weakness.
When we want explanations, teach us to value Your presence.
When we are afraid of what lies ahead, remind us that You are already there.
Help us to trust Your promises and walk faithfully with You.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
🌿 Your Turn — Choose Your Words
Trudy stepped forward again.
Trudy: “This week we are keeping our response simple.”
“You do not need to tell us what you are facing.”
“Instead, choose the words from the bank below that describe what you most need to remember about Yahweh today.”
🔤 WORD BANK
Eternal •
Present •
Faithful •
Sufficient •
Unchanging •
Near •
Holy •
Dependable •
Self-Existent •
Personal •
Covenant-Keeping •
I AM
🔥 Complete this sentence:
Today I need to remember that Yahweh is __________________________.
You may choose one word, several words, or write your own.
For example:
- Today I need to remember that Yahweh is present and faithful.
- Today I need to remember that Yahweh is sufficient.
- Today I need to remember that Yahweh is the eternal I AM.
- Today I need to remember that Yahweh is near.
Trudy: “Share your sentence in the comments below.”
“You never know when the word you choose may be exactly the reminder another woman needs.”
🔥 Take Off Your Shoes
Before everyone began gathering their things, Trudy looked back toward the words Pastor Penny had written:
I AM
Trudy: “Something about Moses taking off his shoes stays with me.”
The room quieted.
Trudy: “He came close enough to investigate a burning bush...”
“...but then he discovered he was standing in the presence of God.”
“Maybe there are moments when we need to stop approaching God only for information.”
“Maybe we need to remember that we are approaching Someone.”
Pastor Penny: “That is an important distinction.”
The burning bush was not merely an answer station.
It was holy ground.
And perhaps that is the invitation we carry into this week:
Before asking, “What are You going to do, Lord?”
pause long enough to remember:
“You are here.”
Tomorrow may contain unanswered questions.
But Yahweh will still be Yahweh.
The next assignment may feel larger than you.
But the great I AM will still be sufficient.
The road may turn unexpectedly.
But the One who says “I will be with thee” has not changed.
🔥 Walk away from the bush knowing who goes with you.
🌿 Next week, God willing, we reach the final letter in our Attributes of God journey:
Z
AS MY MOM WOULD SAY:
📖 Stay the Course in the Word.
