Let God Name You

“I WILL WRITE ON THEM THE NAME OF MY GOD”. REVELATION 3:12 NIV

When Jacob’s wife Rachel was dying in childbirth, she named her son Benoni, meaning “Son of my sorrow.  “In the Bible, names were prophetic; they were given to forecast destiny. So after the funeral Jacob announced, He shall not be called Benoni, son of my sorrow. He shall be called Benjamin, son of   my right hand. He is my strength, not my sorrow!” Guess what, the name Benjamin prevailed. Try to remember that, you are who your Heavenly Father says you are.

Maybe you remember Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. If you don’t know them perhaps you’ll recognize them by the heathen names king Nebuchadnezzar gave them: Shadrach, “command of Aku;” Meshach, “pagan name;” and Abednego, servant of Nego.” These names expressed worship to heathen gods. The real names of the Hebrew children, however, were Hananiah, “Jehovah is gracious;” Mishael, “Who is like God;” and Azariah,” Jehovah has helped.” When the king threw them into the fiery furnace the names God called them prevailed. There’s nothing like trouble to bring out your true identity! Aren’t you glad you’re not limited to public opinion? God’s opinion will always prevail. The old King tried to change the name on the package, but he couldn’t change the contents! Can you picture these boys shouting when they came out of the fiery furnace? One would say, “Who is like God?” Another would lift his hands and shout, “Jehovah is gracious!” The other would smell his clothes, touch his hair and declare, “Jehovah has helped.

Just like Jabez, because his mother bared him with sorrow, she was named him, Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain. Even though, he was more honorable than his brothers, his name prevailed, not until he cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request. So stand up, step out, and go forward in the name that God has given you!