Faith Insight 2: The God Who Makes Himself Known

FAITH THAT LIVES — WEEKLY TEACHING

Faith Insight 2: The God Who Makes Himself Known

“And God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And he said, ‘Say this to the people of Israel: “I AM has sent me to you.”’”— Exodus 3:14 (ESV)

This is the second teaching in our Faith That Lives series, in which we are exploring what Scripture means by a faith that is not merely believed, but lived.

In our first teaching, we considered the simple but profound statement that “Enoch walked with God.” We saw that biblical faith is more than believing certain truths about God. It is knowing Him, trusting Him, and learning to walk with Him.

But that raises an important question:

How can we know God?

The remarkable answer of Scripture is that we can know God because He has chosen to make Himself known.

The Bible begins not with humanity searching for God, but with God acting: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). From that point forward, Scripture tells the story of a God who continually takes the initiative to reveal Himself to the people He has created.

He called Abraham and gave him a promise. He appeared to Moses and revealed His name. He delivered Israel from Egypt and entered into covenant with His people. He spoke through the prophets. Again and again, God acted, spoke, called, promised, corrected, delivered, and invited people into relationship with Himself.

Consider Moses at the burning bush.

Moses was not searching the wilderness for a new understanding of God. God called to him: “Moses, Moses!”

When Moses asked what he should say if the Israelites asked the name of the God who had sent him, God answered:

“I AM WHO I AM.”

God was making Himself known.

This pattern runs throughout Scripture. Faith does not begin with our ability to find our way to God. It begins with God revealing Himself and inviting us to respond.

And God's self-revelation reaches its fullest expression in Jesus Christ.

John writes:

“No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.”— John 1:18 (ESV)

Jesus did not come merely to give us additional information about God. In Christ, God entered human history and made Himself known in a deeply personal way.

Jesus could therefore say:

“Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”— John 14:9 (ESV)

This changes the way we think about faith.

Christian faith is not an attempt to reach an unknown and distant God through enough effort, knowledge, or religious activity. It is our response to the God who has already taken the initiative—the God who creates, speaks, calls, reveals, and ultimately comes to us in Jesus Christ.

Before Abraham followed, God called.

Before Moses went, God spoke.

Before the disciples followed Jesus, Jesus said, “Follow me.”

And before we can walk with God, God makes Himself known.

That means the question of faith is not merely, “Do I believe there is a God?”

A deeper question is:

“How am I responding to the God who has made Himself known?”

FOR REFLECTION

Where in Scripture has God revealed something about Himself that I need to trust more deeply?

A PRACTICAL RESPONSE

Sometime this week, slowly read Exodus 3:1–15. Instead of reading only for information about Moses, ask a different question:

What does this passage reveal to me about God Himself?

Then consider what your response should be to what He has revealed.

A SIMPLE PRAYER

Father, thank You that You have not left us to find You on our own. You have made Yourself known through Your Word and most fully through Your Son. Open my heart to know You more deeply, trust what You have revealed, and respond when You call. Teach me to walk with You. In Jesus' name, amen.

Next Teaching Insight: Faith Comes by Hearing

Adapted from themes explored in Faith That Lives by Dr. James D. Zuber.