Silent Night: The Light of “I Am”

The lights have dimmed. The sanctuary is bathed in shadows, save for the flicker of candles held in trembling hands. The melody begins softly, voices rising in unity:

“Silent night, holy night.

All is calm, all is bright…”

You feel the hush settle over the room, the quiet reverence of this moment. The words are familiar, yet tonight they strike you differently. The baby in the manger, the Son of God, isn’t just a sweet image of peace and light. He is the eternal I AM, Yahweh, the God who revealed Himself to Moses in fire and flame.

You close your eyes and let the words guide you back, far beyond Bethlehem, to a barren wilderness, where another sacred moment unfolded.

The Wilderness: Meeting I AM

The night is cold, the desert air carrying the faint scent of dust and stone. The stars above stretch endlessly, pinpricks of light in the vast expanse of sky. Moses stands alone, the bleating of sheep the only sound interrupting the stillness.

He has wandered this wilderness for forty years, living far from the power and prestige of Pharaoh’s palace. Once a prince of Egypt, Moses now walks the lonely path of exile, tending sheep that aren’t even his own.

And then, he sees it—a bush, burning yet not consumed. The flames dance, golden and bright, yet the leaves remain untouched.

Curiosity overtakes caution, and Moses steps closer. It is then that he hears the voice.

“Moses, Moses!”

The words are not just spoken; they are felt, reverberating through the very ground beneath his feet.

“Here I am,” Moses answers, his voice faltering.

“Do not come near,” the voice commands. “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”

Barefoot, trembling, Moses listens as the voice reveals itself.

“I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”

The weight of those words presses into Moses’ chest. He hides his face, unable to look at the flame, at the holy presence of Yahweh.

Who Is I AM?

When Moses dares to ask for God’s name, the question isn’t flippant. He is asking on behalf of a broken people who have been enslaved for centuries, a people who wonder if the God of their ancestors has forgotten them.

And God answers:

“I AM WHO I AM.”

This response is both profound and mysterious. In Hebrew, the phrase is Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh, a declaration that holds layers of meaning:

1. God Is Eternal:

God’s name reveals that He exists outside of time. He is not bound by past, present, or future. He simply is. This was a comfort to Moses and the Israelites. The God who had been faithful to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was still faithful, still present.

2. God Is Self-Sufficient:

“I AM” declares that God is unchanging and independent. Unlike the false gods of Egypt, who relied on human offerings and rituals, Yahweh needs nothing from anyone. He is the source of all life, the sustainer of all creation.

3. God Is Present:

This name also reveals God’s nearness. He is not a distant deity, detached from the struggles of His people. He sees their suffering. He hears their cries. He is with them, just as He is with us.

4. God Is Faithful:

The name I AM is tied to God’s covenant. It is a promise that He will be who He has always been—a deliverer, a redeemer, a faithful God who keeps His word.

The God Who Remembers

The significance of God’s name doesn’t stop with His revelation to Moses. In Scripture, when God “remembers,” it always leads to action.

• God remembered Noah, and the floodwaters receded (Genesis 8:1).

• God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and He delivered Israel from Egypt (Exodus 2:24).

• God remembered Hannah, and she bore a son (1 Samuel 1:19).

• God’s remembrance is never passive. It is an active demonstration of His faithfulness and love.

When God tells Moses, “This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations,” He is inviting His people to live in light of His covenant. To remember Yahweh is not just to think of Him occasionally—it is to worship Him, to trust Him, to walk in obedience to His promises.

From the Bush to the Manger

Centuries later, the same I AM who called Moses would step into history in an even more extraordinary way. The eternal, self-sufficient, holy God would take on human flesh and enter the world as a baby.

The flames of the burning bush became the light of the world, shining in the darkness of a stable in Bethlehem.

The humility of it is staggering. The One who spoke creation into existence allowed Himself to be cradled in the arms of a young mother. The One who declared “I AM WHO I AM” became Immanuel—God with us.

The Covenant Fulfilled

The birth of Jesus is not an isolated event; it is the fulfillment of God’s promises throughout history.

• In Genesis, God promised that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15).

• In Exodus, God revealed Himself as I AM, the God who delivers His people.

• Through the prophets, God foretold a Messiah who would bring peace, justice, and salvation.

At Christmas, we celebrate the moment when all those promises found their “yes” in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20). The baby in the manger is the I AM who parted the Red Sea, the God who led His people through the wilderness, the God who is with us still.

Back to Silent Night

The candles flicker in the darkened sanctuary. The final notes of Silent Night hang in the air like a whispered prayer. You look at the light in your hand, small yet steady, and you remember: this is what we celebrate.

The God who revealed Himself to Moses in fire and flame has come to dwell with us. The God who spoke from the burning bush now speaks to us through His Son.

And the light of I AM shines still, piercing the darkness, calling us to worship.

“Jesus, Lord at Thy birth.

Jesus, Lord at Thy birth.”

With Love This Christmas

As you celebrate Christmas this year, may the light of I AM fill your heart with wonder and hope. May you see, in the flicker of a candle or the stillness of a silent night, the faithfulness of the God who has always been and always will be.

No matter what this season holds for you—joy, sorrow, uncertainty, or peace—remember this: the eternal I AM is with you. The God who spoke from the burning bush is the same God who came to dwell among us, the same God who walks beside you now.

Merry Christmas, my friends. May the wonder of His name and the gift of His presence bring you comfort, joy, and awe this holy season.