Relationship of my name to who I am. . . .

Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.) Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. (Genesis 25:29–34)

In the Bible, a person’s name is often associated with their character. For instance, when David sought refuge with Nabal and this man refused, his wife said: “Let not my lord regard this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I your servant did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent.” (1 Samuel 25:25) Nabal means “fool.”

The names of God identify Him also. “For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.” (Isaiah 54:5) Jesus is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace in Isaiah 9:6 and Matthew 1:23 says, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us).” (Matthew 1:23)

Today, people are also known by designations. My hubby often introduces them by their occupation, or their education (engineer, teacher, farmer, dentist). I might say, “Bev is the quilter that lives south of us.” 

People are also called or known by their character; honest man, flirty girl, kind soul, etc. In the above passage, Esau was known for giving up his right of inheritance for a bowl of red stew. The Hebrew word for red is Edom, the name given to the place where he lived.

In thinking of what he did, I think of how many give up or say no to the treasure of eternal life because they would rather not be yielded to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Putting faith in Him means dying to self-rule and poses the threat of persecution and hardship. Such people are more interested in being comfortable and having their desires satisfied than facing the unknown.

This can happen to Christians also. It is a temptation to let myself be identified as “Elsie” rather than as “a Christian woman” or anything that identifies me as a child of God that might lead to mockery, rejection, loss of respect, and a host of other negatives. When the forms say “Occupation” they want “retired” or “homemaker” or whatever I do, not “follower of Jesus Christ.” 

Yet God gives boldness. These are the people who know the character and love of God by His names and by spending time with His Son, and experiencing the boldness of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. . . . There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:16–19)

The enemy often tries thoughts like “How could God love you?” into my head. However, His love was secured and demonstrated on Calvary, not by anything I do or say. The Bible is clear in naming me His beloved child.

PRAY: Jesus, being motivated by love involves a sacrifice, just as You demonstrated by dying for me, yet out of that sacrifice comes eternal life. There is no greater love as You keep telling me and showing me. I don’t ever want to give that up for anything like a bowl of stew or whatever might seem comforting at the time. And thank You for revealing to me that my name does fit this biblical pattern for it means “consecrated to God” and I want to be identified by that name!