Day 2 — The God Who Simply Is
Exodus 3:13–14
“Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ””
John 5:26
“For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself;”
Everything we know came from somewhere.
A tree grows from a seed. A river begins at a source. A house exists because someone built it. Each of us received life from those who came before us.
But God is different from everything He created.
When Moses asked God what name he should give the Israelites, God answered, “I AM WHO I AM.”
God did not say, “I became,” or “Someone made Me.” He simply is.
God has no source outside Himself. No one created Him, gave Him life, or made Him who He is. He has always existed, and He will always exist. The word theologians use for this is self-existent.
Jesus said that the Father has life in Himself and that the Son also has life in Himself. God’s life is not borrowed or sustained by anything outside of Him. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are the one eternal God, the source of all life.
This can be difficult for us to understand because everything about our lives reminds us that we are dependent.
We need air, water, food, shelter, and rest. We depend on other people in more ways than we usually notice. Most importantly, every breath and every moment of life are gifts from God.
God needs none of these things.
He did not create the world because He was lonely or incomplete. He did not create people because something was missing in Him. God is complete and perfect in Himself. Before creation, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit shared perfect love and fellowship.
That means everything God gives comes from His fullness, not from need.
He loves us because He is love, and His love flows from His perfect nature—not because He needs something from us. He saves sinners because He is gracious—not because we can add anything to Him. He invites us to worship Him, not to fill some emptiness in Himself, but because He alone is worthy and because knowing Him is our greatest good.
We spend much of our lives trying to prove that we are capable, independent, and in control. Yet freedom begins when we admit that we are not self-sufficient.
We need the God who needs nothing.
The One who simply is gives life to everything that lives. Through Jesus, He also gives eternal life to everyone who believes. Jesus died for our sins, rose from the dead, and brings those who trust in Him to the Father.
Reflection
- Where are you most tempted to believe that you can manage life without depending on God?
- How does knowing that God gives from His fullness change the way you receive His love and grace?
- What do you need to entrust to the God upon whom everything depends?
Prayer
I’m God, You have always been, and all life comes from You. Thank You that Your love and grace flow from who You are, not from anything I can give You. Help me remember that I am dependent on You for every breath and every need. Thank You for the eternal life You give through Jesus. Teach me to rest in Your fullness and trust You more. Amen.