March 10 | Deuteronomy 32:1-4, 39

Pam Mann
Mar 10
3 min read

DAILY READING

REFLECTION

Who is God? Who am I?

By Pam Mann

Who is God? Who am I? These are two BIG life questions. The answer to these two basic questions shapes our every thought, word, and deed.

Deuteronomy 32 offers deep insight into these two questions. In verses 1-4, Moses is totally pumped about how he can proclaim God’s greatness. Let’s consider who Moses is. At this point, he’s at the end of his work career. His career has had its ups and downs, but what a ride! Moses knows intimately a few things about God. (Note: I know you’re not in the same category with Moses. Neither am I. But the God of Moses is our God. The power of God to work in a human life is no less possible today than it was when Moses

breathed.) What Moses knows about himself is shaped by the God who made him and led him every day wherever life took him. Whether Moses looks at the vastness of the heavens or the tiny water droplet on a blade of grass, he sees God’s greatness. As God-fearers ourselves, we read the enthusiasm of Moses and breathe a hearty Amen!

Then, in Deut. 32:39, we read what God says about Himself.

See now that I myself am he!

There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life,

I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand.

Who is God? He is the One who holds life and death in His hand, the One whose power can wound or heal. Of course, there is much more that Scripture reveals about who God is, but this death-or-life and wounding-or-healing tension grips our attention in a week when we are immersed in John 5.

In the Gospel of John, a third question comes up: Who is Jesus? We see a regular guy. He eats; he sleeps; he gets tired; he walks; he talks. He checks all the human category boxes. But then, what Jesus does and what Jesus says pushes those around him to ask if he’s the Messiah. Then, the more He teaches and the more He works wonders, people begin to rethink the ancient scriptures. In the Gospel of John, Jesus makes “I am” pronouncements. They are definitely not answers that humans give to the question, Who am I? The “I am” pronouncements from Jesus are answers to the question: Who is God?

Imagine folks in John 5 at the pool of Bethsaida witnessing Jesus as He heals. No way is this guy like us. No way is He even merely what we expect the Messiah to be or do. This guy is human... yet God? Stay tuned for the exciting reveal of that later in the Gospel of John.

Meanwhile, the Word of God speaks from Deuteronomy 32. Who is God? He is like no other. He holds the power of life and death. His is the power to wound or to heal.

If I, like Moses, am His, and His love endures forever to me, who am I? I am His beloved child, whether I live or die. I am precious to Him, whether He wounds me or heals me.

PRAYER

Lord, we acknowledge Your power and presence. Like Moses, we want to proclaim in our circles of influence Your greatness. Thank You for Jesus who is literally fleshing out for us Your essence.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

PAM MANN

I first joined UALC when my husband (then my fiancé) and I were college students involved in youth ministry. God has used UALC to nurture our family’s faith, even in our years outside the U.S. I’ve participated in UALC ministries with kids, art, prayer, exercise, ESL, and Bible teaching. I do all the fun church things.