nothing less than the transcendent essence and cause of the universe, on which everything depends, and alone subsists.
– Gregory of Nyssa
Abram:
13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. 14 But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.
– Genesis 15:13-14 (ESV)
Isaac:
2 And the Lord appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you. 3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father.
– Genesis 26:2-4 (ESV)
Jacob:
“I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. 4 I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes.”
– Genesis 46:3-4 (ESV)
I am truly He who exists and I who will be dynamically present then and there in the situation in which I am sending you.
– Walt Kaiser
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
– John 8:56-58 (ESV)