Before any conversation starts, there must be introduction of the parties involved. It is very common to hear words like, “My name is Hassan Benjamin, the last born of 5 children family. I was trained in Marine Engineering; and I love to cook. Can I meet you?” When such introduction is completed, the real conversation begins – when everyone is aware of the identity, purpose, passion and the potential of the other parties.
Afeter every successful introduction, the conversing parties know what to expect from themselves; they know the best line for their conversation and they have their boundaries defined.
When a party say, “I am John, the only surviving child of a family of eleven children. The lucky husband of a woman who had thirteen suitors. The only surviving member of an expedition team,….Can I know you?” The other party is given an impression that he or she is conversing with someone who always survive irrespective of the circumstances.
Therefore, introduction is a viable tool for building trust, confidence and bridge in every conversation.
Our God, just like we humans, also engage this viable tool called introduction in His conversations with men and the children of men. From Abraham to Moses, to Joshua and to the Prophets; God introduced Himself each time He spoke to them.
Moses met Him and was about to be sent by Him to deliver the children of Israel. Moses then asked, “…Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘ What is His name? what shall I say to them?” And God said to Moses,”I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you.’”. (Exodus 3:13-14)
If you meditate a little on the conversation between Moses and God and the subsequent conversation between God an dthe children of Israel; you would see that God introduced Himself. And He described what they should expect from Him in His introduction.
Eventually, when the children of Israel needed to pass through the Red Sea, the “I AM THAT I AM” became ‘the Way’. At the time of their need for food, the “I AM” became the ‘Bread of Life’. In another instance, the “I AM” became the ‘Rock’ that supplied water to quench their thirst. In short, God introduced Himself as I AM in order to become the solution to their problems. He was implying implicitly, “You will not survive on what I can give to you (such as bread); but you will survive on Me (My Word – coming from My mouth).
In the book of Revelations 2 & 3; God delivered His counsel and judgment to the churches across Asia – from Ephesus to Smyrna and to Laodicieans. If you read the verses very carefully, you would see that each message to each church began with a unique introduction – tailored for each region and each church.
To one church, He said, “These things says He who holds the seven stars in His rigt hand, who walks in the midst of the seven. These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came back to life”. To another church, He said, “These things says He who has a sharp two-edged sword”. To another church, “He said, “these things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass.”
While the introduction was church-specific, one thing was common to all – His introduction was a pointer to His counsel and judgment. For instance, He introduced Himself to the Church at Ephesus as the one who holds the seven stars in His right hand, and one who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands. He warned them that if they do not repent, He will remove their lampstand from its place. It then becomes clear that how God introduce Himself is either a pointer to how He intends to reward us if we succeed (to do His will) or punish us if we fail ( to do His will).
The question now is, “How does God introduce Himself to you?” My hope is that you will become serious to His will and obedient to His voice. And remember, God is not a talkative; neither is He a baseless communicator!
