I was amused with a feed in a social media; it read, “May we reset 2020; I was not ready!”
Repeatedly, His Word, church history (traditions), reason, and experience give witness—man cannot escape both physical and spiritual laws. But we insist to do things our way. We reverse the process: experience, reason, history, His Word (pick and choose; worse, rely on hearsay) and presume upon God’s love, goodness, and mercy.
Yes, God is love;1 he is good;2 he is faithful;3 he is the same yesterday, today, and forever;4 and is a covenant keeping God. He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded for a thousand generations, the covenant that he made with Abraham,a his sworn promise to Isaac,b which he confirmed to Jacobc as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, . . .5
God’s promises are partial, progressive, and conditional. He gives the assurance of salvation to those who abide in his Son, Jesus. This Jesus whom we have persecuted has been exalted above all and bestowed on him the name that is above every name.6
As a prelude to the importance of a name, he empowered Adam to name all animals.7 God gave new names to his chosen ones; e.g., Abram he names Abraham; Sarai, Sarah; Jacob, Israel; Simon, Peter; Saul, Paul. Indeed, to the Jews a name declares identity, purpose, destiny.8
Genesis 42-45 relates the story of Jacob in light of his son Joseph. Note, earlier Jacob had wrestled with God and prevailed. So, God changed his name from Jacob to Israel9 (Jacob literally means, “to supplant, circumvent, assail, overreach”10). His change of name signified his new identity; he had been created anew. Yet, throughout the Genesis story his name was noticeably interchanged. This is significant. It acknowledges that God knows Jacob. He knows his past, his nature, his frailty; yet, because of His grace Jacob could trust the promise given to him as Israel. Not for any merit of his own11 but because the one who promised is faithful.12
Even the Psalter knew the importance of ascribing glory and honor to God’s name. He declares, I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.13
Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.14
Notes:
1. 1 John 4:8
2. Psalm 34:8
3. 2 Thessalonians 3:3
4. Hebrews 13:8
a. Genesis 15:18-21
b. Genesis 26:1-5
c. Genesis 35:9-12
5. Psalm 105:8-10
6. Philippians 2:9
7. Genesis 2:19-20
8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_name
9. Genesis 32:24-32
10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_(name)
11. Ephesians 2:8-9
12. Hebrews 10:23
13. Psalm 138:2
14. Proverbs 16:20
15. There is no copyright infringement intended for the use of art works in this blog
