Photo by Felicia Buitenwerf on Unsplash
By Mike Chaffin
So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” Genesis 32:27
Why would God ask for your name? Back in the day names had meaning. Because Jacob was born the second of twins, grasping at the heel of his older brother, trying to get past him, he was given the name Jacob, meaning supplanter or trickster. Growing up, fleeing, and raising a family with his uncle, he lived up to that name, even though it was a disparaging one.
Then he decided to come home.
On his return journey he wrestled with God all night long. He wouldn’t stop until God blessed him. In the blessing God changed his name to Israel, which means “one who struggles with God.”
Names still hold meaning. As children we were taught not to call people names. Some names are hurtful, however accurate they may be. One of the most common worst names we call people is pig, or some variation like, sexist pit, male chauvinist pig, dirty pig, greedy pig, and the list goes on. No one likes being called a pig.
I recently read a book which had a female character who was on a military mission. All pilots were given call signs, or names they had to use when on the radio. Hers was Truffle Pig, and it outraged her. Pilots had no say in their assigned handle, and she hated that name. However, as Jacob’s name defined his character, her name defined her purpose.
When God changes our name, it is for a purpose. God changed Jacob’s name to Israel because he had a new purpose. He was to fulfill the promise to Abram, whose name had been changed to Abraham. He was one of the three patriarchs of the Abrahamic covenant, but the name given to him at birth would not be the one the nation would use to signify their blessings and their collective name.
God changed the name of many people throughout the Bible. He gave them a new identity and purpose. Now when someone accepts Jesus as savior and Lord, they receive a new call name. As a child of God, commissioned to spread the gospel, we are called saint.
Some may think of those who God put on special mission, who did great deeds or miracles and are canonized as a Saint. However, the biblical definition is a “holy one” set apart for God’s special purposes. Therefore, every Christian is a saint as we are all assigned a part in the work of growing God’s kingdom.
The question, what is your name, could also be asked as, “Who are you?” It’s a question we all need to ask ourselves. If we claim Christ as our Savior, do we live like a Jacob, a trickster still seeking personal pleasures and economic gain through shady practices, or are we one who wrestles with God, who can look in the mirror and claim the name saint?
Contemplation: Think about the question, what is your name, or who are you. Then consider whose are you. Failings are a surety, but we are either a child of God, or a servant of the devil.
