Prayer: Father, Your influence is vast. Your personal interest in mankind, even to his or her name. Names give each of us identity. Thank You for the personal involvement in the details and significance of a name. Amen.
Reading: Genesis 17 key: vs. 4-5
4 “For My part, because My covenant is with you, you will be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer will your name be Abram, but your name will be Abraham, because I make you the father of a multitude of nations.
Attention: I find it fascinating how expectant parents spend hours, even months selecting a name for their newborn child. They may think of honoring a grandparent or consult books with suggested names. Do they consider the meaning of a name in the process of selection? When I experienced becoming a father, we landed on Christopher Adam because Christopher means “Christ bearer” and Adam means “first man.” He was the first son, and first grandson on both sides. The later name is established, the former name we prayed would be fulfilled in him.
Isn’t it interesting that while Adonai gives new names to Abram (father is exalted) to Abraham (father of a multitude) and Sarai to Sarah (princess), Moses introduces us to a new name and character of Adonai. He refers to Adonai as El Shaddai (vs. 1) God Almighty. El Shaddai tells Abraham that he indeed will have a son “this time next year” (vs. 21), and his name will be Isaac (laughter) vs. 19.
Laugh they did, with joy at the birth of Isaac. Isaac will go on to marry Rebekah. Together, they have a problem pregnancy when she gives birth to twin boys, Jacob (he grasps the heal or he cheats) and Esau (not known). Jacob’s name is later changed by Adonai (Genesis 32: 29), to Israel (God strives, God rules, God heals, or he strives against God), all name meanings seem to apply to Israel. To Israel will be born 12 sons, sons who will become individual tribes of a nation.
An interesting sidelight, Abrahams first son was called Ishmael (God hears). In this chapter, Abraham makes one more attempt to convince Adonai that He could use Ishmael as his heir. Adonai’s reply, “On the contrary,’ Sarah will have a son and you will name him Isaac. “As for Ishmael, I have heard you. See, I have blessed him and I will make him fruitful, and I will multiply him very very much. He will father twelve princes and I will make him a great nation. But my covenant I will establish with Isaac.”
Notice, both Ishmael and Jacob/Israel will be blessed with twelve sons. Even the use of the term “princes,” still applies today in many Arab nations. How prophetic God’s covenants and decrees were when we reflect to the centuries when these decrees and covenants were struck!
Additionally, I like the significance of name changes at significant changes and shifts in our life and walk with Adonai.
Action: I will proclaim the significance in a name! Let’s name or rename our children well.
Yield: I surrender or yield to Adonai when I name my family with a prophetic, meaningful name.
Engage: I engage with Adonai when I establish a character even from the womb.
Relationship: I am in lifestyle relationship when I bear a God-given, God-influenced name.
Prayer: Father, I praise You for the identity a name gives us as we walk out our lives with You. Continue to transform my life into Your image, as Your child. Amen.
Memory Verse: Matthew 1: 21 & 23
21 She will give birth to a son; and you shall call His name Yeshua, for He will save His people from their sins.”
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and give birth to a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which means “God with us.”
Music Video: Hillsong Worship—What a Wonderful Name https://youtu.be/CUBBIddm_rM
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”