No Longer Alone Through the Valley

By Josephine Ng

What do you do when faced with persistent physical hurdles? You may do your best to follow medical instructions and take your prescribed medications, expecting to get better. But what do you do when medication can only do so much?

Life is made of unequal struggles, and author Josephine Ng certainly had her share. In No Longer Alone through the Valley, she describes more than forty years of health problems. With few resources and opportunities, her options were scarce, and her ideals often collided with unfulfilled expectations. She lost motivation, abandoned her dreams, and became frustrated with recurring obstacles. But finally, she found solace, acceptance, and identityin the Bible. Men and women of the Bible grapple with failures and future goals. Ng found encouragement in their stories and their strength, and she shows how you can, too.

Although Ng continues to wrestle with challenges and adjustments to lifes unpredictable changes remain in her life, she is no longer alone in dealing with those problems. No Longer Alone through the Valley seeks to help you find Jesus gifts to guide you through your challenges, whatever they might be. All you have to do is ask.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Sep 11, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490888569

Josephine Ng

Josephine Ng holds bachelor of science, master of divinity, and master of theology degrees. She taught Bible classes and biblical Hebrew and Greek in Manila and Singapore for many years, before health issues eventually ended her teaching. She and her husband, Dr Moses Lim Ann Hin, live in the Republic of Singapore. This is her first book.

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Copyright © 2015 Josephine Ng.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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ISBN: 978-1-4908-8853-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-8854-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-8856-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015914150

WestBow Press rev. date: 08/26/2015

Contents

1 For Friends

2 God’s Story in His Name

3 Shepherd Stories

4 My Shepherd Story

5 His Provisions - My Wants

6 On His Pastures

7 By the still waters

8 The Lord Restores my Soul

9 On His Path

10 Through the Valley

11 In the Shadow He is with me

12 Learning not to be afraid.

13 His Table

14 Oil upon me

15 His Overflowing Cup

16 Goodness and Lovingkindness follows me

17 My Shepherd-Caregiver’s Plan

Epilogue

Endnotes

Unless otherwise indicated, most Bible quotations are taken from Bible Versions used in Bible Works Hermeneutika, 7.0 Edition. Copyright 2007.

Scripture quotations marked (CJB) are taken from the Complete Jewish Bible. Copyright ©1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. www.messianicjewish.net/jntp. Distributed by Messianic Jewish Resources Int’l. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked CSB/HCSB are been taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®. Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Scripture is taken from Douay Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA Bible). This edition of the text has been converted from the 1899 edition of the John Murphy Company, Baltimore, Maryland.

Scripture is taken from GWN - GOD’S WORD® translation, GOD’S WORD®, © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group.

The Bible text designated JPS 1917 (JPS HOLY SCRIPTURES 1917) is from The Holy Scriptures (Old Testament), originally published by the Jewish Publication Society in 1917.  Electronic text Copyright © 1995-98 by Larry Nelson (Box 1681, Cathedral City, CA 92235). All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (NAS/NAU) are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1988, 1995. Used by permission.

Quotations designated NET -The NET Bible, Version 1.0 - Copyright © 2004, 2005 Biblical Studies Foundation. All Rights Reserved.

Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Quotations designated NJB - New Jerusalem Bible.  Edited by Henry Wansbrough.  Copyright © 1985, by Darton, Longman & Todd Limited and Doubleday.  Published by arrangement with Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Come and hear, all ye that fear God,

and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.

Psalm 66:16

This book is dedicated to

(1) Many brave souls who live life with pain.

(2) Families who love them and friends who pray for them.

(3) Friends: Judy and Amanda, Belen and Irene, Serene, Leonida, Joyce, Rosa, Catalina, Gretel and Hepzibeth, Lydia, Madeline, Socorro, Esther, Violet, Siang Kiang, Cathy, Theng Yoke, Sio Suan, Loo Geok, Karen, Ruth, Wan Seng, Yin Ping, Florence, Lanny, Mae Ellen, Veronica, Nancy, Esther, Grace, Anita, Joy, Lily, Tjoh Dju, Julie and Mala.

Acknowledgement

I appreciate and acknowledge: Friends who quietly pray and care for me.

I acknowledge the following which make information available for knowledge seekers and lovers of learning new things.

Internet sites for interesting information on many living and non-living nature, cultural and geographical diversities, history and science, food and lifestyle.

Theological seminary professors and schoolmates in Asian Theological Seminary (Manila, Philippines) from 1979-1982. Teachers and classmates of two mission courses at Alliance Biblical Seminary (Quezon City, Philippines) from 1982-83. Lecturers, and friends in Asian Centre for Theological Studies and Missions (Seoul, Korea) from 1983-1984. Collectively, the travel stories, missionary adventures, and church ministry experiences enriched my knowledge and applications of the Scripture.

1

For Friends

A friend shows his friendship at all times-it is for adversity that such a brother (or sister) is born.

Proverbs 17:17 (CJB)

Hello. How are things coming along for you? Friendship is an important gift. Seeing your smile is an appreciated welcome gift. Hearing your voice is the best sound in the ears. A pat on the back is the best touch. Your friend is fortunate to have you. As you read this book, you probably recall someone with similar experiences.

Permit me tell my story. I am a traveler: a Pain bearer. I have been traveling alone on this road. I stop, I rest, and I continue the following day.

I attend a school of lifelong learning. There are various disciplines requiring individual-oriented lessons. There is no limit to the number of courses. There are no major or minor credits, nor field education or internship. There is no restriction on when to complete this degree. Not everybody attend this school. In this school of adversity, Pain is one of my core studies. Given a choice, no one joins or volunteers for it.

In this school, there is no attendance record. There is no need for absence regulations. On the contrary, the Department of Grace allows absence. Classmates frequently submit excuse slips. Come to think of it… perhaps there is no need for these slips. We just want to follow the rules; if there are unspoken expectations. The department timely receives our prayer letters. Training and discipleship personnels know who needs to rest, recuperate and recover. Other course mates enter long-term rejuvenation programs. There is a special Alpha-Omega Fraternity of Intercessors actively meeting daily. Every student here is on their prayer lists.

In my specific degree major, Pain 101 is a core subject. It is the least of my favorites. Our Lord Jesus is the Master Teacher. Most time, we school at home. We study at our pace. Our Lord Jesus makes house calls. He conducts classes whenever someone is available. There is no homework. But we do have short exams. There is no grading though. There is no honors list. God’s grace and love appraise each student-learner. At the end of it, there is no transcript. There is only God’s Certificate of Favorable Reception before His Presence. God hands out a Gold Ribbon Graduation Certificate and a gemstones-studded crown.

Come with me. Let us hop on this open-door tramcar. There are many places to visit and see. The trail has many docking stations. You may choose to stop at resting places. You can catch up later. However, I am traveling casually and moving on. Sometimes I get down from the tramcar and stroll along the garden path. The park has many hiking spots worth visiting. Walking is good exercise. One can stop and rest at the Shalom Garden-Park. You can stop by a diner near the park entrance. Have a cup of tea. Join me again when you have rested well. I travel at an easy pace. I will be waiting for you.

If you decide to journey with me, we will slow down together at some places. I am cruising about twenty kilometers per hour. I hope it is not too slow for you. I assure you when tiredness sets; we will find a corner to rest. I am not in a hurry to complete the journey so I will take breaks. We will read maps of solace, take deep breaths, smell the roses, and meditate on God’s Word. There are workshops and short seminars. We will contemplate stories about men and women who failed but finished well. Their life goals were God’s goals for their lives.

Permit me share my feelings, struggles, and challenges. Let me share my thoughts as reflective lessons. These are heart-mind insights: what I learned and continue to learn from Bible stories. Sunday school teachers are a very creative group of people. After telling the Bible stories, a teacher includes stories to strengthen the lessons. I remember some of these. They were unusual stories. That is why I remember them. Some stories were not like the nitty-gritty stuffs found in my culture. They were stories, wonderful stories, which keep re-surfacing in my mind.

Let me share my interaction with God’s Word. I learned so much from these lessons. Having an appetite for learning means devouring large chunks of Bible lessons. I have received many tasty tidbits and morsels of blessing; small portions of food are easier to manage. Sometimes I taste the same food for its gentle nourishing lesson. The Lord waits patiently for us to learn lessons of faith and trust. Come and share the blessings from our Lord Jesus.

I suggest that we hold Psalm 23 as our meditation guide and conversation. Psalm 23 is a poem; a hymn which also portrays a story. Let us begin the story from the viewpoint of a little lamb; always looking up to his shepherd for attention and affection.

Many scholars and writers have assigned David as the writer of Psalm 23 and I accept their conclusion. However, in this book, I like to try a different approach. I propose to call the writer the twenty-third psalmist. For other writers of psalms, I will say the sixty-ninth psalmist wrote Psalm 69 or the 104th psalmist wrote Psalm 104. I am not disagreeing with many years of biblical studies on the authorship of many psalms. My sole intention is to interact and respond to the words of Scripture. Referring to the twenty-third psalmist is just one way of approaching the psalms. It is an expedient way of naming the psalms.

Life is better now. For several years, the following equation often represented my life: Life = Pain. For some, life equals pain and pain a gazillion times. Do not worry so much about pain. It does not happen for many. Nevertheless, for others, life remains painful. Life offers only pain. Pain seeks out life and never let go. Some experience more pain than anyone have ever known.

Dawn breaks and the sun rises. The rain falls, the grass green, the trees open their eyes, and the flowers lift their faces to the sun. Then the clouds clear, the blue sky appears and the sun sneaks back into life. As day ends, the sun lowers itself on the horizon and the evening lights spread slowly into my room. Today is yesterday’s tomorrow. Tomorrow is another day. Two days from now, tomorrow will be a yesterday. The cycle of pain repeats.

Life, as someone said, is a journey. This book is more than just a journey. It is seeking comfort from the one who grants solace freely. There are many books about suffering, yet suffering is not what I am writing about. It is chronic pain. The understanding is not that pain and sickness will not happen; pain keeps coming, uninvited.

If someone can explain why I experienced pain for more than forty years; travel with me. I would like to know what you discovered. I am visiting many places and listening to inspiring stories. I will tell you how I feel. You can suggest what I can do. When there is nothing more to say, do not worry about it. I will introduce you to an extraordinary friend. Let my special friend lead. Let us be still and know He is present. He promises never to leave us or forsake us.

One day, when a massive headache bulldozed my mind, I yelled frantically. Words sliced through silent walls of pain. The Lord is my shepherd; I do not want anything else. I am having a big bad wolf of a headache now. What are you going to do about it? I have Hebrew verbs lecture today. I was down with chronic eczema; endless rashes covered my body, bumpy watery reddish welts all over. I cried. I needed the shepherd’s rod and staff. I needed the oil of comfort. Isn’t there a remedy just for me?

Someone says in each life, there is a calling. Perhaps mine is a life of chronic pain. Some may not welcome this view. I have learned to live. It is easy to point fingers; to blame the past. I choose to stop the blame-game. I have learned to live what I can; with what I already have. Every one grows up in a different environment. To be born subject to chronic pain is not a penalty.

Here is what I discovered. The Pain life is a life no one dares to seek; none sane enough to ask; and none brave enough to live without complaining. No one can obliterate pain when it begins. No one can stop pain when it keeps coming; especially when it jolts you out of bed in the middle of the night. Sometimes pain bars the doors to solace and relief. Who lets pain through the window? Who can order pain out of those windows? No one desires pain. Nobody wants lifelong pain.

Consider this invitation. Let us stroll together. We will talk about some good old days. The men and women in the Bible did not live perfect lives, but the perfect God fulfilled His plan in them. Many Bible characters lived life with abundance. Others lived simply. By their accord, these men and women in the Bible were not successful or became the greatest people on earth. They were not strictly in a league of their own. They depended on others for their identity too. However, they trusted the sovereign Almighty God. The Lord ruled in their lives and guided their soul through the darkest tunnel of their journey.

Come. Be my traveling companion. Let us get started. We will take leisure walks, hiking and mountain climbing. We will stroll with lambs and shepherds. Let me tell you about my Shepherd. He is the best listening companion. I look up to Him. Be surprised by what He can do. He will not and will never abandon nor forsake us. Let me share my life and my thoughts.

Every experience God gives us, every person he puts in our lives, is the perfect preparation for the future that only he can see.

Corrie Ten Boom¹

2

God’s Story in His Name

Knock. Knock. Rhoda heard someone knocking on the door. Getting up slowly, and tiptoeing gingerly, she reached the door. Then, instead of opening the door, she hurried back to the room where the Christians were praying. Heart pounding with excitement, Rhoda announced Peter was at the door.

Shhhhh… Rhoda, what are you saying? Uncle Peter is in jail!

It’s Uncle Peter. I know it’s Uncle Peter. I heard his voice. Peter kept knocking. Hello! Anybody home? Someone finally opened the door.

Peter! Is it really you? It’s impossible! You’re in jail! Not a blink, not a word more. Excitement. Commotion. Heads turned, jaws dropped, shell-shocked faces, and wide-eye stares. Gradually, a beaming smile traveled from one wide-eyed face to another. Tiny flames from flickering oil lamps danced, joining the chorus of joy. Heaven came down at once and God’s glory filled their souls.

Here… pinch me. I am Peter… in flesh and blood.

The Christians were astonished. Peter really appeared outside their door (Acts 12:16).

* * *

I was awfully sick as a child. My mom called me a sick cat in her colloquial Chinese Cantonese dialect. No offence to cat lovers. I love cats myself. I have no idea where the ethnic rendering came from. I fell sick easily. High fevers lingered.

One such illness attacked when I was about ten. My parents had no clue what made me so horribly sick. My body was covered with welts and tiny broken red spots. My joints felt like they were melting. I thought my skeleton would dismember. I kept sleeping and not eating. Pain blanketed my body.

My mother took me to the hospital early one morning. When the senior doctor saw me, he wanted my mother to ward me. My mother protested. We had no money. The doctor told her should she take me home, I will probably be dead in a couple of days. Terrified, she agreed to leave me under his care. The doctor promised to help financially.

I cannot remember how long I was warded. I kept dozing off and on. I couldn’t move both arms. I was hooked up with blood transfusion and dextrose water. I drifted in and out. I had no idea what was wrong. It was only later, when I was in high school; my mother related I was down for a several weeks. In the late sixties, it was the horrible dengue hemorrhagic fever or called H-fever.

Traditional Chinese families prepare nutritious meals to aid recuperation. But my family was poor. Our family of five survived on my mom’s meager salary for food, shelter, water and electricity bills, clothing, and school fees. It was a long road to recovery.

I returned to school. My classmates were surprised to see me; even my teacher. Blank faces rested on me. They asked me where I had been. I had no answer. It never dawned on anyone that we don’t own a phone. It never passed my sixth-grade brother’s mind to inform my teacher. It never occurred to my parents to contact the school. My mother worked the whole day.

One boy in class stared and voiced, I thought you were dead! I had no reply. I was not acquainted with Peter’s story in the Book of Acts then. Today, I can’t even recall his name. I wonder where he is now. But I am still here. I pinch my nose; pull my ear lobe and say, Hey! I am still here.

* * *

Shall we visit another place? Let’s climb a hill and watch Moses’ encounter. What crossed Moses’ mind? Perhaps he was perplexed. Pulling his ears, he uttered, A bush burning? Maybe he slapped his right cheek and pulled his beard. A lump rose in his throat. He gasped. I’ve never seen anything like it. What’s that glow? Is it a bonfire? Someone must have lighted this fire! Why would anyone fire up such a big bonfire in mid day and in this corner of the mountain? Someone is playing a trick on me. It cannot be. I must be imagining things!

Perhaps Moses was thinking, In my forty years of herding sheep, climbing this hill, and strolling along this terrain, nothing ever happened. I walked on the same sand, stepped the same stones, almost leaving the same footprints. I see the same boulder, the same few trees, and the same narrow footpaths. I even experience the same sunny days. Nothing ever happened … but not today. I’m really too old for this. I can’t do this anymore. I need a new job.

With his trusty staff, Moses might have poked and tapped on many types of low bushes while pasturing his sheep. However, this one bush was burning non-stop. He was not about to swing his staff on this flaming one. No way. He needed his staff. He wanted to go home with his staff intact. Wait a minute. Hold on a second. Nah, this can’t be. Moses stood, alone, no lambs in sight, bewildering at the fiery bush.

What if Moses just composed himself, pulled his right ear and pinched his arm? What if he struck his hand with his staff? Maybe, just maybe, Moses might have gotten it. It might have dawned on him. He might have uttered: Where have you been, God? You placed me in this forsaken world of disappointments, discouragements and delays. What else do I need to learn? Did I pass the exam? Surely I did? I came here daily with the flock which is not mine. I am here: alone, isolated, by myself. My father’s family is not here. For forty years I waited (Acts 7:30). Forty silent years, I led my in-law’s flock around this region. You didn’t say a word to me. Suddenly, pooofff, You appear in this burning little tree? You can do better than this! What’s the deal here? Am I missing something?

Then perhaps out of nowhere, in a split second, k k k r r r c c k k, whooofff, a flying twig smacked his face. Listen! You’re not missing anything. Each day you watched your father-in-law’s flock, I am watching you. Every step you took, every hill you climbed, every path you plodded on this weary land, I watched over you like you watched your in-law’s flock. I never left you or abandoned you. Not a minute, let alone a second, did my eyes left you. You are never alone. I am always and will always be with you. I have been watching you. I have been protecting you since you left Goshen, Egypt. I am the LORD.

Sometimes I wish we can have dialogue of some kind, especially conversations of assurances. Call it ‘God-in-human-speech’. God gives His children many clear words of comfort and reassurance. We learned this in Sunday school. The Holy Scripture is not really as fictional as one thinks. Even when I can dialogue with God openly, the Holy Scripture remains God’s word through the ages.

I recall a student asked how he can guide his small group in Bible study. Another asked how to experience God daily. And I gave a clue. As we read the Bible, God speaks to us through His Word. We can experience God by listening to what He says. We can experience God for as long as we like. The Bible is God’s word, not just man’s language. God creates speech and uses human language to communicate with us.

Let’s return to the mountaintop scene.

Now, before the eighty year old shepherd could string a paragraph of sentences, before his frozen jaw set, before he could critically analyze the revelation, and before his next thoughts took flight, God broke the silence.

Moses. Moses.

Here I am. Moses muffled softly and faintly. How could Moses have known? Perhaps Moses knew who called his name. He did not ask, Who is that? Maybe, for a few seconds, he didn’t know until God revealed Himself. He might not have guessed initially. Then the Bible revealed. God called out: This is holy ground. Take off your sandals! Drop your staff (Ex. 3:4-5). I am the God of your fathers.

Walk back with me to the Book of Acts.

The Christians in Mary’s house might have doubted for a few tick-tock, tick-tock, and seconds too. Who wouldn’t? Peter was in prison. It was humanly impossible to get out of jail. It was not as if Peter found a way or hole and escaped. No one escapes the dank torture chamber. The Christians in Acts were dungeoned with thoughts of impossibility. Yet they prayed vigilantly. They never expected an angel of the Lord would rescue Peter. But we know the story. Our Sunday school teacher told us this amazing story. We’ve got the written and recorded Book of Acts.

Many weeks earlier, in another room, the disciples were praying too. The Lord Jesus appeared in His divine resurrected body. Peace be with you. There was no knocking on the door or a small voice a-calling. Jesus just stood in their midst. They knew it was the Lord Jesus.

Back in Mary’s house in the Book of Acts, how could Peter be there? No one can be in two places at once. They could have accused Rhoda of telling stories. Thank God, the Scripture did not say. At first, the Christians thought Rhoda was out of her mind (Acts 12:15); after all she was servant-girl (v. 13). Then they thought it might be Peter’s angel (v. 15). Miracle seems to happen to people whom we least expect it. The Christians came to the door. The moment they saw Peter, they were astonished. It has to be Peter. God was doing and will continue to do more great things through the lives of the disciples.

The Book of Acts documented many stories. Just turn to that book in the Bible. You can read all about the disciples’ extraordinary experiences.

Returning to the Book of Exodus, Moses’ eyes, face, and skin felt the warm incandescent light. I am the LORD. I am the God of your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. You are standing on holy ground. Take off your sandals. This is a noteworthy story. We are going to visit this story some time later.

* * *

The LORD - I AM WHO I AM

Many English Bibles capitalized the name LORD. The biblical Hebrew language uses four letters (y-h-w-h) for the name LORD. Many Christian literatures use four English capital letters, YHWH, to correspond to the Hebrew name. God revealed this name to Moses (Ex. 3:14). The name is so holy that Jewish and many Christian scholars today choose not to pronounce or write God’s name literally. So perfectly holy and divine, to avoid desecration and blasphemy, a substitute name is used instead. We find The Name or Ha-Shem, or G-d on books, articles and essays.²

My seminary Old Testament instructor, an American missionary, taught this approach to our Hebrew class, and I in turn taught my students with the same suggestion; read the biblical Hebrew word Adonai for Hebrew y-h-w-h. Calling Adonai honors God, and preserves the sanctified name of God. For your convenience, I will use the italics The Lord in this book for Adonai.

You can change your name, but God never changes His. We can legally change our name by getting a deed poll. When a woman is married, in many cultures, it is the norm to use the husband’s family name. When a young orphan is adopted or a child’s mother re-marries, the child can opt to adopt the new family name. God does not adhere to such human custom.

To tell a stranger one’s name is to open a new channel of friendship. Hi. I am ... You are… You avail yourself to the possibility of long term acquaintance. In the Bible, the name giver has some measure of authority over the name receiver. Parents named their children. Ruling powers named their subjects. For example, Jacob’s son, Joseph, received a new name in Egypt. Pharaoh called him Zaphenath-Paneah. Joseph was no longer a slave. He was no longer a prisoner. He was a high ranking official, second in command to Pharaoh (Gen. 41:40-45).

Likewise, the prophet Daniel and his three friends, Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael also received new names (Dan. 1:7). Their former names identified them as Hebrews, the children of God. Daniel became Beltheshazzar, Hananiah became Shadrach, Azariah became Abed-nego, and Mishael became Meshach. Their new names showed their subordinate position under the authority of the Babylonian king. Bible records the four young men, while receiving new names, did not emulate the culture of the Babylonians. They lived as God’s faithful men.

Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, also received a new name: Israel. Having spent twenty years in his uncle’s home, Jacob decided to return to his father’s house in Canaan. Jacob sent his family and household servants ahead with his livestock while he passed the night alone. That night, the messenger of the Lord appeared to him. Jacob wrestled through the night with this messenger. As dawn broke, Jacob refused to let him leave until the messenger blessed him. Before the messenger departed, he blessed Jacob and changed his name to Israel that day (Gen. 32:28).

Jacob was no longer just going to live his own life, doing his own thing, or shaping his own destiny. He was no longer just Jacob. He was no longer just his uncle’s nephew. He was no longer just the absentee son. He was no longer Esau’s estranged brother. He was no longer just a man with two wives and twelve children. God gave him a long-term future. His new destiny was about to unfold. Jacob was no more, only Israel.

Back in the book of Exodus, Moses found a burning bush. In truth, God sought Moses. Well, Moses wasn’t lost. God reached out to Moses. God revealed Himself through a little-known desert bush burning in an unparalleled manner to an ordinary man. He was repositioning a forgotten prince-turned- shepherd into a reluctant leader of God’s people. God never abandoned him. No one remains alone. No one remains ordinary. God makes us extraordinary. Famous people are not born special. God makes an ordinary person who belongs to Him special in His sight.

Although Moses was about eighty, he was still relatively healthy. His hearing was attuned to any voices of distress from his flock, amidst the howling wind, and the hissing desert snakes. His octogenarian eyes were used to dangers in the pastures. But a burning bush was not something he saw everyday. Curiosity got the better of him (Ex. 3:3).

Give me a break, Lord. This is the first time I see something like this. I know which boulder to turn and which narrow path between the hills to enter. I know which path I took every morning and afternoon to reach home. Give me a break Lord. I am eighty. My eyebrows are now grey. My beard has reached my chest. It is scary to be old. I just want to make sure it is really you. Well, it was not quite the response we expected.

God was sending Moses back to Goshen, Egypt. When Moses queried: What am I going to say? Why will they believe me? God revealed His plans and His name. God did not reply: "What do you mean what are you going say to the Hebrews? You know me! Why, I looked after you for forty years! Hey Moses, I told you my name. You are still not sure? I am The Lord!" The Bible tells us God admonished Moses five times (Ex. 6:2, 6, 7, 8, and 29).

God cut to the chase: I AM WHO I AM. He directed Moses to tell the Hebrews I AM sent him. The Lord, the God of their fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob sent Moses. (Ex. 3:14-15). And The Lord clearly ordained this name forever. And I am always with you is associated with The Lord (Ex. 3:12).

Why is this name revelation especially significant?

First, God remembers His promise. The Lord visited His children in Goshen. He saw their afflictions. He heard their cries daily. God decided it was time to free them from their oppression. He watched their daily misery: making bricks, and building other people’s houses and cities.

The Lord unveiled His plan to the point. He had seen enough. He cared for the welfare of His people (Ex. 2:24). It was time to end their suffering. It was time to turn a new chapter. The Hebrews were ready to march forward. His plan demonstrated His unconditional love.

I AM here to save my people from bondage of slavery. God came to rescue His people (Ex. 3:8; 6:6). This was the context God revealed His name to Moses. It was the reason He revealed this sacred name. God wanted to establish a saving relationship with His people.

God’s timing is unparalleled. His name is equated with saving grace and a departure experience. His name correlates with release from slavery, leaving the old entering a new life. This is significant. God gave His special name I am I AM. I AM set you free. I AM gives you new life.

Having lived in the land of Goshen for 430 years (Ex. 12:40), the Hebrews had forgotten the God of their fathers. Without a name, God could be identified by any name, perhaps an abominable name unworthy of God’s holiness and character. A man-given name could be a likeness of any creature, like the way ancient Egyptians named their gods after the likeness or representation of selected land and sea creatures.

No one gives God a personal name except God Himself. God never needs another name. Generations of Hebrews were commanded to remember the name YHWH or The Lord. God gave Moses an once-in-a-lifetime unrivaled job. The Lord is God’s identification card. The name was Moses’ stamp of authority.

God’s name was the only calling card Moses carried to present God to the Hebrews as well to the Pharaoh. One name was all Moses had to remember. In times of emergency, one name is all one can remember. This name is the powerful name The Lord.

So The Lord unreservedly made known His name to one man first. The Lord established a principal relationship with one person initially. God promised to be with Moses (Ex. 3:12). The Lord must first convince and reassured the former Egyptian prince that He, the God of his fathers; remembers His promise to his ancestors. And His promise was about to happen.

Moses would play a big part in fulfilling this promise. God’s name, His mighty hand, and His power would be disclosed both to the descendants of Jacob and to the ancient Egyptians through signs and wonders (Deut. 4:34; 6:22; 7:19; 26:8 and Josh. 24:17).

Finally, God made His planned intention clear: first to Moses, then to the descendants of Jacob. The Lord called the Hebrews His People (Ex. 6:6-7). He initiated a unilateral relationship. You are my people. I am your God. Who among the nations will a God seek a people and make them His own? There is no parallel in history. A divine God reached out, associated Himself to a people of lowly peasant slaves.

Now The Lord confronted the self-proclaimed-divine pharaoh and his priests. Ten plagues ravaged pharaoh’s land, except Goshen. Even the combined forces of pharaoh’s magicians and sorcerers conceded defeat before The Lord. The Book of Exodus attested: and the Egyptians shall know that I am LORD (Ex. 7:5, also 7:17; 8:22; 12:12; 14:18).

For a while, pharaoh allowed the Hebrews to march out of Goshen. To lose his first-born was tough but he was king. He could have other sons. To be depreciated in his self-deified position was wretched. But to lose the Hebrew slaves was another matter. If they were gone, they were gone for good. Pharaoh got to get them back.

Pharaoh’s earthly goals were not The Lord’s goals. There were unfinished projects in his cities. Pharaoh thought his goals were more important than God’s. Pharaoh’s goals collided with The Lord’s goals. Even before the new day begun, he ordered his army to pursue the Hebrews. No one can stop God’s plan. Pharaoh would learn his lessons the hardest way.

God’s people were moving towards the Red Sea. Moses allayed their fears: The Lord will fight for you (Ex. 14:14). God charted a passage in the middle of the sea for the Hebrews to escape. The Hebrews walked on dry land. After the last man stepped on to the other side of the shore, the waters returned to its former shape. The Egyptian chariots and soldiers sank into the watery grave. Who dares stop The Lord? No one really saw God’s mighty hands dividing the waters. They feared, trusted and believed The Lord (Ex. 14:31).

Pharaoh conceived of lording over God only to be thwarted with calamitous consequences. In ancient Egypt, the pharaoh had a divine mandate to rule people. Thus the Exodus pharaoh believed himself to be a god. Who is the LORD that I should obey? I know not the LORD! Pharaoh retorted (Ex. 5:2). However, he and his priests did not count on the living, powerful The Lord. If there was a unique weapon of ultimate destruction against pharaoh’s injustice to the Hebrews and his self-deific position, it was God’s name, The Lord. There was no other. This was God’s story of His name. God is I AM. The Lord is God.

I AM delivered His people, the Hebrews. He was with them. The pillar of cloud and fire guided the Hebrews’ journey to the wilderness. I AM was present in the midst and around the Hebrew camps, and in each family’s tent. I WILL BE wherever they set up camp.

The Lord, the God of the Hebrews is the living God. He is not like the gods of the ancient Egyptians. The Lord declared His name; perhaps anticipating what the Hebrews might do, giving God a form, an identity or any name. The Lord was not a man like pharaoh who claimed to be divine. I AM is not a conceptual humanized god.

The Lord is not a representation of object or animal forms. The Lord cannot be fashioned or sculpted in any figures made by man. A hand-made sculptured image means that a man possess, control and dominate a figurine with a man-named god. The Lord is not to be subordinate to any man or to any of His creation. The Lord created everything in the heavens and on the earth. The Lord is over all He created. The Lord is God. This is The Lord I learn to know, believe and trust.

Our Lord Jesus made a special prayer for us before His time on the cross, and before He ascended into heaven. In the gospel of John, Jesus spoke many times of His relationship with God the Father. And John, the writer of the gospel and his three epistles, told us we became children of God when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. The apostle Paul also declared we are heirs with Christ. We are in God’s family.

Our Lord Jesus introduced God the Father to us. Jesus said He comes in His Father’s name. Jesus also said the Father sent Him. Our Lord Jesus did not do things on His own, but served the will of His Father (John 5:19, 30, 37; 6:38). Jesus did not teach His own thoughts, but the teachings originated from God the Father (John 7:16-18; 8:28-29, 38). Jesus taught His disciples the truth about the Heavenly Father and His plan. These words continue to speak to us today. Jesus said when we ask the Father for anything, He will give to us in Jesus name (John 16:23-24).

In chapter seventeen of the gospel of John, Jesus lifted His eyes to the Father, and prayed for us. It was the eve of His arrest, trial and crucifixion. Jesus spoke of how He revealed God’s