When Jehovah refers to Himself as the "I AM" God, what does that mean? How should we interpret the Lord's fondness for referring to Himself as the "I AM"? What does He want to convey to us by making this His favorite expression for Himself? Here is what God's "I AMs" are designed to express.

Self-existence. "I AM" implies that God needs no one else to exist in order for Him to exist. If He had never created men and women, birds and animals, trees and flowers, stars and suns, He would still have existed. He is the "I AM" God.

Personality. Using the first person pronoun indicates that God is a person, not a force or an idea. God is personal, a being with the full range of personal attributes. He is the "I AM" God.

Life. God is; that means He is alive. He is a divine Life Form. We were created in His image and draw our spiritual life from Him. He is the "I AM" God.

Immutability. God is the same yesterday, today and forever. His existence and essence do not change. "For I am the Lord, I change not" (Malachi 3:6). The "I AM" always will be. He is the "I AM" God.

Reality. "I AM" means that God is real. He is; He is not a figment of the imagination. In fact, He is the ultimate reality. All other forms of reality find meaning only in Him. He is the "I AM" God.

Necessity. We must come to grips only with what is real, not what is imaginary. Since the "I AM" is a reality, He is also a necessity. We can go through life ignoring everyone else, but we cannot ignore Him. He is the "I AM" God.

—From "The I AM God" by Woodrow Kroll, Published by Back to the Bible, PO Box 82808, Lincoln, NE 68501.