I Am Who I Am

(to the tune of Green Eggs And Ham)

based on Ex. 3:13-17

delivered at University Lutheran Chapel (LA)
January 4, 2004

and Concordia University Irvine
January 20, 2004

“I Am who I Am” sounds like an ontological truism. But, it denotes absolute independence. None of us can say that about ourselves. Even the great Cartesian posit, “I think therefore I am” suggests a subtle cause and effect, a dependence of sorts, which is foreign to God’s nature.

God reveals His name in our text. He reveals Himself as “I Am – I Am who I Am.” His name indicates that He is fulfilling His promise that He had given for generations. And, that promise was all about deliverance – deliverance from bondage.

In our text God reveals Himself and His promise to Moses. He reveals Himself and His name in a shrubbery. A rather humble location for the great I Am. It kind of reminds us of another humble location of the other great I Am. We just visited that humble location this Christmas. For the Christmas I Am is God’s revelation of Himself to you and me. In Christ Jesus we have God’s fulfilled promise and His deliverance for us from our bondage to sin, death, and the devil. Jesus Christ is I Am in the flesh. Jesus Christ identifies Himself with the I AM in our text. Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. I am the vine. I am the Good Shepherd. I am the Bread of life. I am the resurrection and the life.” There seems to be clear connection between these I Ams. And there seems to be a clear connection between God’s promise of deliverance to Moses and God’s promise of deliverance to you and me. Because I Am we are God’s children.

But, receiving God’s revelation of Himself and His promise of deliverance doesn’t come naturally. We tend to resist it. That fact and the name “I Am” led me to think of a story about another reluctant recipient in the face of another invitation. In Dr. Seuss’ classic thesis “Green Eggs and Ham” we find a character named Sam – Sam I am. Sam I am asks a rather crusty, reluctant character if he likes green eggs and ham, to which the grouch responds over and over again, “I do not like green eggs and ham.” Sam is persistent with his invitation until the grouch relents and tries it. To his surprise, joyful surprise, he likes it. So, let’s begin our story between, not Sam I am, but I Am Who I Am and the reluctant grouch – you and me.

I Am.

I Am who I Am.

Do you like I Am who I Am?

I do not like I Am who I Am.

Would you like I Am right here?

I would not like I Am right here.

I would not like I AM right there.

I do not like I Am who I Am.

Would you like I Am Incarnate,

Your sins are gone so don’t harp on it?

I would not like I Am Incarnate,

I like my sins, I do – darn it.

I would not like I Am right here.

I would not like I Am right there.

I do not like I Am who I Am.

Would you like I Am the Way,

The Truth, the Life, it’s free no pay?

I would not like I Am the Way,

It’s in my nature to want to pay.

I would not like I Am Incarnate.

I like my sins, I do – darn it.

I would not like I Am right here.

I would not like I Am right there.

I do not like I Am who I Am.

Would you like I Am the Light,

Provide for you life-saving sight?

I would not like I Am the Light.

Lost in space defines my plight.

I would not like I Am the Way.

It’s in my nature to want to pay.

I would not like I Am Incarnate.

I like my sins, I do – darn it.

I would not like I Am right here.

I would not like I Am right there.

I do not like I Am who I Am.

Would you like I Am the Bread,

Feast on Me and be well fed?

I would not like I Am the Bread.

I’m not sure why, I’m spiritually dead.

I would not like I Am the Light.

Lost in space defines my plight.

I would not like I Am the Way.

It’s in my nature to want to pay.

I would not like I Am Incarnate.

I like my sins, I do – darn it.

I would not like I Am right here.

I would not like I Am right there.

I do not Like I Am who I Am.

Would you like I Am the Vine,

Well connected and feeling fine?

I would not like I Am the Vine.

Just cut me off, I’ll do my time.

Oh no, cut me off I’ll do instead

So you’re no more among the dead.

I did it for you on Calvary.

From your sins you now are free.

Would you like I Am the Resurrection,

Live, though die, divine election?

Life invites I do concede.

In humility I now must plead.

In your Kingdom remember me.

Say, I do like I Am the Resurrection,

Live, though die, through your election.

I do now like I Am the Vine.

I am connected and feeling fine.

I do now Like I Am the Bread.

Feasting on You I am well fed.

I do now like I Am the Light.

I see things now with heavenly sight.

I do now like I Am the Way,

The Truth, the Life, for me you paid.

I do now like I Am Incarnate,

God in flesh, unio personalis.

I do now like I Am right here.

Word and sacrament dispels my fear.

I do now like I Am who I Am.

I like you, too. I liked you first.

Because of that you’ll never thirst.

I Am who I Am I promise you.

You are delivered, the battle is through.

Rejoice this day, My angels do.

I Am who I Am truly loves you.

The End.

Amen.