GOD CALLS YOU BY NAME
Names are very important in the Bible. They may refer to who a person is, or the conditions of the person’s birth, or what happened at that location. Today’s One Year Bible reading in Genesis 35 includes several explanations of the names of places and of people.
I’d like to look at two of these. Previously, in Genesis 32:28, God had changed Jacob’s name from Jacob, which means “he betrays,” to Israel, which means “God Strives.” Now, in Genesis 35:9, God reaffirmed that name change. In the past Jacob had been a schemer in his dealings with his father Isaac, his brother Esau, and his father-in-law Laban. But now he was a different man, and his new name reflected that.
Throughout the Scriptures God refers to Himself by various names, reflecting the aspect of His character the situation called for. Here, in verse 11, God refers to Himself as El-Shaddai — “God Almighty.” God reiterates to Jacob/Israel the promises He had made to Abraham and to Isaac: He would give Israel’s descendants the land He had promised to Abraham and Isaac, and would form them into a great nation. And He was able to do all this, because He is God Almighty.
Our names today may not reflect our character or origin the way names did in ancient Israel, but God knows our names, too. In Isaiah 43:1, God told Israel, “I have called you by name; you are mine.” Not only does God know our names, He knows who, where, and how we are. And whatever our need, God is sufficient for it. May we experience His sufficiency as we trust and rest in Him.
I’d like to look at two of these. Previously, in Genesis 32:28, God had changed Jacob’s name from Jacob, which means “he betrays,” to Israel, which means “God Strives.” Now, in Genesis 35:9, God reaffirmed that name change. In the past Jacob had been a schemer in his dealings with his father Isaac, his brother Esau, and his father-in-law Laban. But now he was a different man, and his new name reflected that.
Throughout the Scriptures God refers to Himself by various names, reflecting the aspect of His character the situation called for. Here, in verse 11, God refers to Himself as El-Shaddai — “God Almighty.” God reiterates to Jacob/Israel the promises He had made to Abraham and to Isaac: He would give Israel’s descendants the land He had promised to Abraham and Isaac, and would form them into a great nation. And He was able to do all this, because He is God Almighty.
Our names today may not reflect our character or origin the way names did in ancient Israel, but God knows our names, too. In Isaiah 43:1, God told Israel, “I have called you by name; you are mine.” Not only does God know our names, He knows who, where, and how we are. And whatever our need, God is sufficient for it. May we experience His sufficiency as we trust and rest in Him.
by Darrel Eppler, Chairman of the Elder Board
Posted in Read Through the Bible
Recent
Archive
2023
January
WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER?RESOLVING CONFLICT AND DEALING WITH EVILWHAT KIND OF FRUIT DO YOU HAVE?GOD IS PROUD OF HIS SONPEACE IS A FUNCTION OF FOCUSTHE HEALING POWER OF JESUSGOD CALLS YOU BY NAMESMOKE AND MIRRORSBE A LIGHTWISE WORDSEXODUSCHOOSING THE RIGHT PATHGOD SEES AND HEARSWHO IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM?WARNING AGAINST FOLLY
February
March
HE HAS A PLAN FOR YOUTHE PLACE OF COMFORT AND SAFETYIT'S THE LITTLE THINGSBE ALERTMY GOD IS NOT TOO SMALLWHEN TO SPEAK AND WHEN NOT TO SPEAKGOD IS GRACIOUS TO USKEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUTSTAND STRONG FOR YOUR FAITHOUR HOPEDO I DO WHAT THE LORD ASKS OF ME?DON'T BE A SCHEMERA TREASURE HUNTLISTEN AND FOLLOWWORDS OF COMFORT OR WARNINGTHE POSSESSOR OCCUPIES AND FILLS THE POSSESSEDUNDIVIDED LOYALTY TO GODONE CONCESSION STAND
2022
January
February
A LEGACY OF FAITHHOW DO YOU APPROACH JESUS? GRUMBLING & COMPLAININGTHE STANDARD OF HOLINESSTHAT DOESN'T SOUND FUN!WHO IS A SINNER?JOY FROM READING THE BIBLEBETRAYING, DENYING & MEGOD'S BLESSINGSDO WE DENY KNOWING JESUS SOMETIMES?PASS THE LOCUSTS AND HONEY ...GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESSTHE UNHOLY IS MADE HOLYWHO IS A GOD LIKE HIM?!?HEALTH INSPECTOR'S PERSPECTIVETHE MASTER OF TIMINGWHO IS THE GREATEST?
March
RECEIVE THE KINGDOM OF GOD LIKE A CHILD OR DO NOT ENTER!HOW DO YOU APPROACH JESUS?STANDARD OF HOLINESSPARABLE OF THE TENANTSTHE COMPLAINTS OF CHILDRENJUSTICE AND JESUSGOOD NEWSREADING AND PRAYING THE IMPRECATORY PSALMSHIS GRACE IS ENOUGH (Num. 24-25)WAITING ON THE LORDOUR LEGACYGOD PROVIDESPSALM 65ABSURD, INCOMPREHENSIBLE EVILA LAW BREAKER MEETS HIS SAVIORLOOKING BACK GIVES HOPE FOR WHAT'S AHEADONE LINERS
No Comments