What Does ‘I Am Who You Say I Am’ Mean In The Bible?
The Bible contains many powerful verses that speak to our identity and relationship with God. One such verse that is worth examining closely for its rich meaning is ‘I am who you say I am.’ This simple yet profound statement expresses a willingness to let God define us, rather than insisting on our own self-determination.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: The verse ‘I am who you say I am’ indicates a posture of humility and openness to letting God shape our identity, rather than clinging to our own notions of who we are.
In this in-depth article, we will explore the meaning and significance of ‘I am who you say I am,’ looking at the verse in context, what it tells us about relating to God, and how it challenges us to reconsider our sense of identity and purpose.
The Source of the Verse
The verse appears in Isaiah 51:12
The verse “I am who you say I am” comes from Isaiah 51:12 in the Old Testament. In this passage, God is speaking to His people Israel, who are afraid and anxious about the future. This verse is God’s response, reassuring Israel of His sovereignty and power.
Specifically, Isaiah 51:12 states “I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mere mortals, human beings who are but grass, that you forget the Lord your Maker, who stretches out the heavens and who lays the foundations of the earth, that you live in constant terror every day because of the wrath of the oppressor, who is bent on destruction?
For where is the wrath of the oppressor? “
(NIV).It is God’s response to anxious Israel
Israel was facing threats from oppressive foreign nations at this time. They feared destruction and exile. In this context, God gently rebukes their fear and forgetfulness of His power. He reminds them He is the one “who stretches out the heavens and who lays the foundations of the earth.”
Unlike feeble man, His strength does not waiver.
Israel’s Complaint and God’s Answer
Israel was fearful and felt abandoned
During their exile in Babylon, the Israelites felt overwhelmed with fear and abandonment from God (Isaiah 49:14). They thought God had forgotten them and questioned if He still cared for them (Isaiah 49:14). This feeling of despair left them anxious about their future and survival.
God, through the prophet Isaiah, acknowledged their complaints. He heard their cries of distress and understood their feelings of being deserted (Isaiah 49:14-16). Yet, He reminded them that a mother could not possibly forget her nursing child. Likewise, God’s love ran deeper still.
He had engraved them on the palms of His hands from the very beginning (Isaiah 49:15-16).
God reminds them of his sovereignty
To reassure the Israelites of His sovereignty, God said He would make rivers in the deserts and turn wastelands into springs of water for them (Isaiah 41:17-20). He would provide for their needs and not abandon them.
Through this, they would understand His omnipotent power over nature and human kingdoms.
Furthermore, God challenged their limited view of His authority (Isaiah 40:12-14). He weighed the mountains and hills in His divine hands. No one could possibly counsel the eternal, all-knowing God on what was wise or right. His rule and reign superseded all human understanding.
He invites them to trust his definitions, not their own
God invited the Israelites to align their perspective with His higher purposes (Isaiah 55:8-9). Their definitions of success fell infinitely short of what He could orchestrate. So He encouraged them not to limit themselves to their own understanding.
God illustrated how His thoughts exceeded theirs by highlighting His grace over their sin (Isaiah 1:18). Though their sins were bright red, He could remove their transgressions and restore them to purity. His offer gave them hope despite their complaints.
While the Israelites saw only exile and abandonment, God saw redemption and restoration. He urged them to trust His interpretations, not their own. His ways were higher and aimed to give them “a future and a hope” again (Jeremiah 29:11).
Letting Go of Our Self-Conceptions
We tend to cling to our own notions of identity. Our self-conceptions often become so ingrained that we have trouble seeing ourselves accurately. We get attached to certain labels, stories, and ways of thinking about ourselves. But God sees us more truthfully than we see ourselves.
Research shows that most people tend to have an inflated sense of their own virtues and abilities. According to a 2021 study, over 80% of people rate themselves as above average in traits like honesty and intelligence. We often judge ourselves by our intentions, while judging others by their actions.
This “holier than thou” bias leads us to see ourselves in an unduly positive light.
We also tend to assume that our personalities are fixed and unchanging. But research suggests that personality traits can and do change over time, sometimes dramatically. God sees that our identities are more fluid and malleable than we realize.
But God sees us more truthfully than we see ourselves
In contrast to our biased self-perceptions, God sees us accurately. As 1 Samuel 16:7 says, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” God sees our innermost thoughts, motives and true character.
God also sees the people we could become, not just who we are right now. While we may put ourselves and others into boxes based on our pasts, God sees our potential for growth. As C.S. Lewis wrote, “He wants to make the man more perfectly man.” God has a vision for us beyond our current limitations.
This verse calls us to relinquish our assumptions
When God says “I am who you say I am,” it is an invitation to surrender our false self-conceptions and limited perspectives. Rather than projecting our own notions onto God, we are called to open ourselves to how God wants to define us.
We must relinquish our ego’s insistence that “I am who I say I am.”
This verse reminds us that we often don’t see ourselves clearly. We need God’s grace to encounter our true selves. As we let go of our prejudices, attachments and fixed ideas about identity, we create space for God to reveal new depths within us.
Trusting God’s Purpose and Plan
Our Creator knows why we were made
As human beings with limited perspective, we often struggle to understand our purpose in life. However, the Bible teaches that our Creator, God, has a specific plan and purpose for each of us (Jeremiah 29:11). He knows exactly why He made us and what unique role He wants us to play.
Though we can’t see the full picture, we can trust that the One who formed us has good plans in store.
God promises that if we commit our lives to Him, He will guide our steps and reveal His will over time (Psalm 37:23). We may not know every detail about the future, but we can be confident that the Author and Perfecter of our story is leading us towards something great (Hebrews 12:2).
His plans far exceed our limited vision
Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us that God’s plans are infinitely greater than we could imagine: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” Even our wildest dreams likely pale in comparison with what the all-knowing, all-powerful Creator of the universe has in mind for us.
Just think – if we could see even a fraction of God’s astonishing plans for the world, we wouldn’t aim so small. We would dream bigger dreams, pursue higher callings, give more generously, and impact communities in ways we can’t yet conceive.
His vision for each of our lives is truly beyond what our earthly eyes can presently behold.
Saying “I am who You say I am” surrenders to His wisdom
Perhaps the most important step we can take on our journey is humbly acknowledging our limited human perspective. Echoing Christ, we surrender: “I am who You say I am” (see John 6:35-38). We admit that we don’t have it all figured out, our plans could use some revision, and we desperately need guidance from our all-wise Father.
As we yield our agendas to Him, He gently transforms us from the inside out, renewing our minds to perceive from an eternal vantage point (Romans 12:2). Gradually, we begin seeing glimpses of our lives and purposes the way He sees them.
We start to grasp – even if only partially – the incredible plans He has for us and how all our stories fit together in His grand design.
Living Out Our God-Given Identity
This verse reminds us to seek God’s affirmation
The verse “I am who You say I am” from Psalm 139:14 is a powerful reminder that our true identity comes from God (Psalm 139:14). As His beloved children, we find our worth and value in how God sees us, not in earthly titles, possessions, or the approval of others.
When we build our identity on the shifting sands of worldly validation, we end up frustrated. But when we turn to Christ and trust that we already have infinite worth in Him, we gain confidence and purpose.
This verse urges us to reject the lies of the world and instead seek God’s loving affirmation of who we are. His words over us have the final say.
It enables us to align ourselves to his truth
The promise that we are who God says we are allows us to anchor our sense of identity in His unchanging character and promises. We all tend to believe subtle lies about ourselves – that we are too weak, unlovable, unimportant, etc.
But Scripture makes definitive statements about who we are in Christ – chosen, holy, and dearly loved (Colossians 3:12). As we align more fully with His truth, our lives are transformed. Seeing ourselves the way the Father does enables us to live boldly into our true identity as beloved sons and daughters.
We can have confidence that His perception of us, not our self-doubt or fears, reflects reality.
We find freedom when we accept how God defines us
There is so much freedom in recognizing God as the author of our identity. We no longer have to strive to measure up to the ever-changing standards and expectations placed on us by family, friends, co-workers, society, and so on. We can rest securely in who God declares us to be.
This radically transforms how we live – no longer enslaved to people-pleasing, image-crafting, or searching for validation from below. As children of the Most High King (Galatians 4:6-7), we have unshakable worth and value.
Walking in the confidence of our identity in Christ allows us to live freely and boldly as He created us to be.
Conclusion
The simple verse ‘I am who you say I am’ powerfully captures a poignant spiritual truth: our need to let go of our own narrow definitions and fully embrace God’s wise and gracious perspective on who we are.
As we open ourselves up to his loving vision for our lives, we find freedom from fear and anxiety and step into the destiny he has prepared for us. This verse invites us on a journey of surrendering our limited ideas about ourselves in order to say, along with Jesus, ‘Not my will but yours be done.’
When we let God’s words, not our own, define us, we become who we were created to be.
