What’s in a name?

In the Bible, names have meanings. Naming a person gave them existence, purpose, and function. Adam named his wife “Eve” because she brought life into the world (Genesis 3:20). Eve named her son “Seth” because it means ‘appointed’ (Genesis 4:25). Isaac and Rebecca named their younger twin “Jacob” because it means ‘one who grabs the heel’ (Genesis 25:26).

Jacob is often thought of as duplicitous and deceitful, a sneaky schemer who didn’t appreciate being secondborn. Have you felt mislabelled, misnamed, misunderstood, and misjudged by people? Be totally assured that God NEVER mislabels, misnames, misunderstands, or misjudges you.

Genesis 25:27 implies that Jacob did not have a complex about being the younger twin. He probably led a fulfilled life, cooking, and accomplishing indoor enterprises, while Esau excelled in wild game-hunting and outdoor pursuits. Even later, when working in a foreign country for his father-in-law who repeatedly duped and cheated him many times over fourteen years, Jacob maintained his peaceful and calm demeanour (Genesis 31:6-7).

But one night God encountered him in a supernatural way. An unnamed man came to wrestle with Jacob. Do you feel as though God is wrestling with you, trying to get something from you but you are struggling to know what it is? Keeping wrestling, God is teaching you something very important for your future that will help heal, deliver, and set free many people. God will never let you down and you will prevail if you don’t give up.

After an all-night wrestle, the unnamed man asked, “what is your name?” Jacob gave his name. The unnamed man then said, “your name will no longer be Jacob – it is now Israel” which literally means ‘prince with God’ (Genesis 32:27-28). After blessing Jacob, the unnamed man departed. Jacob was transformed, no longer bound by fear. He would never again run away from men! Having survived the incredible encounter with God, his fear of death had vanished!

A similar miracle belongs to you too. God is saying, “no longer are you [whatever you have been mislabelled, misnamed, misunderstood, or misjudged] – your name is now prince or princess with God.” In giving your new name God is giving you renewed existence, purpose, and function.

A magnificent promise is yours from in Isaiah 56:5. To them I will give in My house and within My walls a place and a name better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.

Will God really give us a name better than that of sons and daughters and what could it possibly be?The answer is yes, He will, or He would not have put the promise in there. And I believe that a better name is ‘intimate friend’. Jesus called His disciples “intimate friends” (John 15:15). Both the Aramaic and Greek word for “intimate friends” is “those cared for from the womb”. Jesus calls you His intimate and cherished friend because you were born again from His wounded side. Hallelujah! Believe it and live like you believe it!

Love and blessings

Pearl