Many inquisitive young children who are reared in Christian homes have asked their parents the question, “Where did God come from?”

This profound question calls for an answer. The nature of the question itself demonstrates the cause-effect relationship that God has designed in this world in which we live. Every cause has an effect. Everything we can see, touch, hear, and know has a first cause, an origin, and a beginning. The child learns to know by experience that breakfast was cooked by Mama, that eggs come from chickens, and that milk comes from cows.

But what about God? Where did God come from? This question has arisen, not only in the hearts of children, but also in the minds of philosophers, scientists, mathematicians, and kings.

One of the important and Biblical attributes of God is self-existence. This term means that God exists without cause, without beginning, and without origin. He is responsible to no one. He came from nowhere. His existence is dependent upon nothing. In the words of the Apostle Paul, “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist” (Colossians 1:17).

When the Lord revealed Himself to Moses in the wilderness at the burning bush, Moses asked God what he should say to the Israelites when they asked him the source of his authority to lead them out of Egypt to the Promised Land.

“And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?” (Exodus 3:13).

The Lord answered Moses with an assertion of His own self-existence. “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM” (Exodus 3:14).

God’s response must have come as a shock to Moses. God did not explain Himself. He did not set about to prove His existence by rational arguments.

On the surface, the statement seems to repel inquiry and to have an air of aloofness, giving distance between the Israelites and God. Let’s take a moment to look a little deeper and consider the grammatical form of God’s revelation of Himself.

I AM THAT I AM

Upon a closer examination of the Hebrew grammar within this text, the expression could be rendered more precisely “I am continually being Who I am continually being.” The verb is timeless, stretching from eternity past to eternity future.

This particular name of God defies rational explanation. It transcends the law of cause and effect. This expressed identity affirms that Jehovah is without cause, without beginning, and without end.

Suppose if a mere man were to be asked, “Who are you?” Were he to dare answer with the words, “I am who I am,” it would be a statement of haughty pride! But God owns this sublime title, without apology and without explanation.

The Lord continued, saying to Moses, “Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you” (Exodus 3:14).

I AM

This shorter term is the root of the name Jehovah, seen so often throughout the Old Testament. Because He is the ultimate cause of all in the universe, He is the Lord of all, the great I AM of the universe.

But lest we think that this self-revelation of God as the I AM is a cold and uninviting rebuff whereby Jehovah holds mortal men at arm’s length, we should also consider the warm and gracious words that follow this pronouncement:

“And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations. Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt: And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:15–17).

The self-existent God Who owes nothing to anyone has chosen in love and mercy to visit and redeem His people. He saw their affliction. He had pity upon them. He is a personal God Who knew their fathers by name. He has a plan for their future—to bring them into a land flowing with milk and honey! He is not aloof nor is He remote. His name is I AM THAT I AM. Rather than driving them from His face, His name should instead draw them closer to His grace.

I AM is not a name to be feared. It is a name to be loved, a name to be treasured, and a name that will carry us with confidence wherever Jehovah is leading.

Where does God come from? He comes from Himself. This answer can satisfy the heart of the simplest child as well as the heart of the most knowledgeable scientist. God is self-existent. He is the fount of every blessing. This God, I AM THAT I AM, comes to us to reveal Himself, to glorify Himself, and to call us to Himself in love.