The New York Post reported today that a real estate magnate named LeFrak asked Donald Trump this week how he planned to overcome the Democrat’s recent surge in popularity in the presidential election campaign by presenting himself more positively to the American electorate. Trump answered, “I am who I am.”
I wonder if Mr. Trump knows that is in that Bible he held up in front of that church one day. For those exact words, “I AM WHO I AM, is exactly what God told Moses at the burning bush incident, recorded in Exodus 3, when Moses asked God his name. It happened at Mount Horeb, and it was one of the most important revelations of God recorded in the Bible.
God appeared to Moses in a bush that wouldn’t stop burning. When Moses walked over closer to it, God spoke (probably through his angel), saying, “‘Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.’ He said further, ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look God” (Exodus 3.5-6 NRSV).
God then explained that he was going to send Moses to deliver his suffering people, the Israelites, from bondage in Egypt. Then we read further, “But Moses said to God, ‘If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, “What is his name?” what shall I say to them?’ God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ He said further, ‘Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you'” (Exodus 3.13-15).
There has been much debate throughout history about whether I AM is God’s name. I think not exactly. That is an explanation of God’s name. For, God gave his name in this discussion when he said, “The LORD, the God of your ancestors,” etc. LORD is God’s name. But not exactly. The Hebrew text does not say the Hebrew word for “Lord,” which is adonay; rather, it says YHWH/yhwh. Ancient Hebrew had only consonants, thus no vowels. Thus, Gentile scholars usually translate these four letters, supplying vowels, as Yahweh; but a few Jews translate it Yehvah.
YHWH/yhwh occurs almost 7,000 times in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). But Bible translators almost always render it “LORD.” The reason is that Jews, before the time of Jesus, created a tradition in which they refused to utter or write God’s name because they deemed it too sacred to do so. Instead, they substituted other words for it, mostly adonay, which means “lord.” In the LXX—the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible produced in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC—translators render YHWH/ywhw as kurios, which means “lord” as does adonay.
So, during this discussion between God and Moses, God meant that “I AM WHO I AM” explains the meaning of God’s name Yahweh.
Back to present American politics, LeFrak was referring to the fact that during this week Kamala Harris has overtaken Donald Trump in the polls for the presidency. Trump complained again yesterday in a political campaign about President Joe Biden having withdrawn from the race, making Harris the presumptive Democratic nominee. Biden was pressured by Democrats to quit largely due to his miserable performance in the debate against Trump in late July. Trump was beating Biden in the polls, and worse after that debate. Trump now seems to think he would still be beating Biden if they had not debated because that’s what caused Biden to withdraw. So, yesterday in the political rally, Trump said, “Why did I debate him?”
Indeed, that seems right. The switch in popularity has been dramatic and fast. Yet Trump added, “I think she’s easier to beat, I really do.” I don’t think so. Rather, Trump is just saying that trying to convince himself and his hearers. But no matter what, Donald Trump will not change his strategy of attacking his opponent with name calling and other abuses because, as he said, “I am who I am.”
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In