Before Abraham Was: Jesus as the Eternal ‘I AM’
In the Bible, Jesus’ statement, “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58), holds profound meaning regarding His divine nature and eternal presence. This statement prompts us to reflect on His active involvement throughout biblical history, especially in the Old Testament.
Recognizing the significance of “I am” is crucial to understanding Jesus’ words. In Exodus 3:14, God discloses Himself to Moses as “I AM THAT I AM.” This title signifies God’s existence, constant presence, and unchanging essence. It is a title given to Yahweh, the God of Israel.
When Jesus proclaims, “Before Abraham was, I am,” He isn’t just stating His pre-existence before Abraham but aligning Himself with the “I AM” from Exodus 3:14. Through this declaration, Jesus asserts His divinity by claiming a self-existent nature with Yahweh. This claim was quite remarkable, leading His audience to react strongly by wanting to stone Him due to what they perceived as blasphemy.
Jesus as the Pre-Incarnate Word
John 1:1-3 reveals the eternal Word’s role in creation:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.”
The Word, being both with God and God, represents His self-expression, His will and purpose in action. From the very beginning, nothing came into existence without the Word, underscoring its eternal nature as one with God.
The Creative Power of the Word
The connection between the Word and creation is further revealed in Genesis 1:3:
“And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”
With a simple command, God brought light into existence by the power of His Word. This divine act demonstrates the authority and creative power of God’s spoken Word. What God wills, His Word accomplishes, and it was through this same Word that all things came to be. The light in Genesis marks the beginning of creation, just as John 1:1-3 reveals the Word as the foundation of all creation.
Moreover, Genesis highlights that it was God who said, “Let there be light,” establishing God as the author of His Word. The Word is not a separate second person but the very expression of God Himself.
The Word Made Flesh
In the fullness of time, this eternal Word became flesh, as described in John 1:14:
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.”
The Word, eternally with God and as God, became fully manifest in the incarnation. In this act, God entered His own creation to bring light not only to the physical world but to the hearts and souls of humanity. The One who declared, “Let there be light” in Genesis now shines as the true light of the world in Jesus Christ, who said, “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12).
God’s Interaction Through the Word
Now, with this understanding, we can recognize that when God interacted with figures such as Adam and Eve, Abraham, and Moses, it was through the same Word that later became flesh. Jesus, as the eternal Word, has consistently revealed God’s will throughout history. His Word is His will in action, the direct expression of His creative and redemptive power.
Theophanies and the Angel of the LORD
In the Old Testament, “the Angel of the LORD” frequently acts with divine authority and is often recognized as God Himself, suggesting that these appearances are pre-incarnate manifestations of Christ. For example, Abraham’s visitors, who conveyed God’s promise, and the Angel speaking to Moses from the burning bush, are instances where the Word of God is actively engaging with humanity before His incarnation. These encounters reveal God’s redemptive plan unfolding through His Word even before Christ took on flesh.
- Hagar’s Encounter: In Genesis 16:7-13, Hagar realizes she has encountered God when she meets the Angel of the LORD.
- Abraham’s Visitors: In Genesis 18, one visitor is recognized as the LORD, often interpreted as a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ.
- Moses and the Burning Bush: In Exodus 3:2-6, the Angel of the LORD speaks to Moses, revealing God’s presence.
Hagar’s encounter with the Angel of the LORD is significant. After fleeing into the wilderness, the Angel of the LORD finds her by a spring, directs her to return to Sarai, and promises that her descendants will be countless. Hagar, realizing she has met more than just a messenger, names Him, “Thou God seest me” (Genesis 16:13). This highlights that the Angel of the LORD is often recognized as God Himself.
Similarly, in Genesis 18, Abraham is visited by three men, one of whom is recognized as the LORD. This visitor reaffirms God’s promise to Abraham regarding the birth of Isaac and discloses the impending judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah. Despite Sarah’s initial disbelief, the LORD’s promise stands firm.
In Exodus 3, the Angel of the LORD appears to Moses in the burning bush. God speaks from the bush, identifying Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and calls Moses to lead His people out of bondage.
The Significance of God’s Word in Theophanies
In the encounters with Hagar in the wilderness, Abraham under the oaks of Mamre, and Moses at the burning bush, God’s Word holds a central role. It is through His Word that God’s presence is revealed, His promises are made known, and His plans are unveiled. These moments illustrate that God’s Word is not distant but rather personal, dynamic, and transformative.
For Christians, these theophanies are often seen as appearances of Christ before His incarnation as the Word, consistently serving as the medium for God’s communication with humanity. Whether conveyed through the Angel of the LORD, the visitors to Abraham, or the voice from the burning bush, God’s purposeful Word reveals His nature, will, and love for His people.
The Eternal Christ: Beginning and End
By understanding this truth, believers are invited to recognize Jesus as God manifested in the flesh, fulfilling the promises He made throughout history. As the eternal “I AM,” Jesus embodies the truth of God’s revelation to humanity, deserving of our reverence and devotion.
Isaiah 48:16 speaks of this eternal presence:
“Come ye near unto me; hear ye this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I. And now the Lord GOD and His Spirit hath sent me.”
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