YAHWEH'S MOUTHPIECE

Recently, I was reading from Exodus 3 where Moses asked God for His name to report to the children of Israel, and God responded, “I AM THAT I AM”. This got me thinking about the question of name and identity particularly our response when faced with the question “Who are you?” particularly when we respond with the phrase “I am”.

By the way, I wrote an article about God revealing Himself as I AM THAT AM a while back. You can find it here.

Names are tokens of identity. In biblical sense, the dictionary defines a token as an expression of something else – a sign, a symbol – just as the rainbow is a token of God’s covenant with Noah.

There are examples in the scriptures where names were given as tokens of an identity.

God changed Abram’s name to Abraham. He said, “for a father of many nations have I made thee” (Genesis 17:5). Abraham means “father of a multitude”.

Jacob’s name was changed to Israel: “for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men and has prevailed” (Genesis 32:28). Israel means, “God prevails”.

A brand-new identity was given to these two and a name was appended as a signature, a token of that covenant and encounter.

Of Jesus, it was said, “Thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21). Jesus means “Jehovah is salvation”

When you are asked, “Who are you?” and you respond, “I am Miracle.”, what are you really communicating? Is it just a mere appellation or your identity? It is beyond an appellation. Names are descriptive of our identity, the person we are and who we become.

There was a man named Nabal, the husband of Abigail. The meaning of His name was “fool” and he indeed behaved as one and would have had his entire family wiped out. His wife even said so. “Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.” (1 Samuel 25:25)

Was the name given because of His actions or did the name propel the behaviour? I suppose the latter going by the scripture, “as his name is, so is he”. We are familiar with the scripture, “As he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7). We are now seeing that as a man’s name is, so is he. Remember Jabez, “and his mother called him Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.” (1 Chronicles 4:9). That name defined and constrained his life that he had to pray to God for blessing and an enlargement of his coast, as the name was tantamount to a curse upon him.

Your name is a calling that is why they call your name. Isaiah 43:1 “…I have called thee by thy name…”. It defines the response and result of your life according to the law of cause and effect. Hence, do not let people call you what you are not, or rather, what God has not called you. If a name is not in line with the calling of God for your life, reject it.

When we call on God, He responds according to His name. “I will set him on high because He hath know my name. He shall call upon me and I will answer Him…” (Psalm 91:14 – 15). “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13). What name? “For there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). It is the name, “Jesus!” When that name is called, salvation is revealed. “Thou shalt call his name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.”

There is a response from your life in the direction of the name you are called. And it is not only a benefit we enjoy; it represents a blessing we are to become that many may find blessedness.

“I say unto thee that thou art Peter…” And he indeed became a stone upon which the church was built.

What is the revelation of God behind your name, what is the calling of God that your name expresses? Your name defines who you are and what you become.

By this, I can boldly say, not just that my name is Goodnews, but that I am Goodnews. I am a source and spring of refreshing to many nations and generations.

Who are you? I would love to hear from you in the comments.