The Questنموونە

In terms of intimacy with God, the oceanic question “Who are You, Lord?” writes another in the wet sand of its high tide: “Who am I, Lord?” To hold to the mentality that the second question has no place at all can be noble in its humble intent, but it is not biblical. God expended wells of ink on the parchments of Scripture to answer a question that, while it may be a distant second, it is second nonetheless. That He often uses the second question—who am I?—to bring people to the first—who is God?—is a testimony to His sheer mercy and patience. Who we believe God to be does not change Him one whit, but our identities and destinies hinge all their hopes upon it. 

Take a good look at Deuteronomy 33. 

Our heritage of faith treasured up in the Old Testament is a bank account of riches impossible to overdraw in a lifetime of study. We have the privilege of living on the completed side of the redemptive work of Jesus, the Lamb of God, foreshadowed by every Old Testament sacrifice. When we place our faith in Jesus, we go under the new covenant rather than the old covenant of ancient Israel.

While Deuteronomy 33 showcases twelve tribes of Israel with separate pieces of the prophetic pie, by Christ’s grace we inherit “every spiritual blessing in the heavens” (Eph. 1:3).

Because there is no one like our God, there is no one like His people. The Old Testament Israelites were naturally born into the family of God while we are reborn into it by the Spirit (John 1:11-13; 3:3). Neither birthright was about superiority. Both were about salvation. Both were dependent on grace.

Note the concept in Deuteronomy 33:29. “How happy you are, Israel! Who is like you, a people _________________________?”

For people of faith, our source of strength is vastly impressive. It’s who we know God to be. However, if we never connect His identity with ours, the pipeline built by the cross connecting us to divine power stays mostly clogged by unbelief.

Let’s take a different turn with the question who? 

Read Genesis 3:1-13. Trace the answer to the question “Who told you that?” to find the question’s original source. Who told them something deceptive that led to sin? We’ll discuss this topic of deception in more detail tomorrow.