He said also, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.” (Exodus 3:6)

Thirteen times in the Bible, both Old Testament and new, this phrase occurs, with slight variations: “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Moses received the first mention in the wilderness during the burning bush incident. Chronologically, we must remember, this came after 400 years of silence from God, a particularly dark period in the history of God’s people.

God had spoken to Abraham, the revered ancestor of the Jewish people, giving him a promise in three parts. He would give Abraham and his descendants their own land (what is called “the Promised Land”), they would increase to become a great nation, and God would bless the entire world through them (Gen 12:1-3). In time, Abraham had a son Isaac, and then Isaac had a son Jacob (who was later renamed by God as Israel). Jacob in turn had 12 sons, whose descendants are aligned into the 12 tribes or family clans of Israel.

These sons along with Jacob relocated to Egypt during a time of great famine, where they ended up remaining for 400 years. During that time, there was no communication from God until the time leading up to the Exodus (the great movement of the descendants of Jacob out of Egypt to the Promised Land) under Moses’ leadership. This is, in summary form, the genesis of the Jewish people—they are all descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (who are called “the patriarchs”). While individual Jews identified with one of the 12 tribes from which they were descended, all were linked to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Continuity with God’s dealings with the great Jewish patriarchs was therefore paramount for Moses’ commissioning to lead God’s people out of Egyptian slavery and to begin forming the nation of Israel. This was not to be a new religion, with new gods. Theirs would be the same God as that of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Four hundred years did not change God, for the history of humanity is not about people evolving in their construct of deity. But unfolding of history is really about the God of the universe invading our fallen, dark world to reveal Himself and His requirements for His creation, His image bearers. We don’t define Him; He reveals Himself. And today, He continues to reveal Himself, the same One who revealed Himself to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We worship the same God they worshipped.

Lord, You are the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—and I worship You as the same One they worshipped.