What’s In A Name?
BRD REFLECTIONS
Genesis 41:41-57 & Psalm 40 (NIV)
(Jonathan Huang, Deputy Director of Administry)
READ:
In today’s passage, we read of Joseph becoming the equivalent of Prime Minister in Egypt (v41-43), second only to Pharaoh. This honour was given because Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream (v25-32), proposed that grain be stored in the seven years of plenty, to prepare for the seven years of famine (v33-36). A plan which he administered.
Interestingly, Joseph also became a father of two boys, Manasseh and Ephraim. Manasseh in Hebrew means “making to forget”, and Ephraim means “making fruitful”. Joseph named Manasseh as “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.” (v51).
OBSERVE:
The Israelite’s method for naming babies has led to some interesting names in the Old Testament! Joseph’s father, Jacob’s name means “he grasps the heel” because he was holding his brother’s leg when he was born. Esau, his brother, was named “hairy” because he was born with hairy red hair!
For Jacob, his name had a double meaning in Hebrew, “he deceives”, and it turned out to be true, when Jacob deceived his father Isaac, to receive the blessing meant for Esau.
In fact, Joseph was the child of Jacob and Rachel, and his name meant “may he add” as Rachel had longed for another son (Gen 30:23-24), in a time of rivalry with Leah, her sister and Jacob’s other wife.
Often in the Bible, names represent significant circumstances surrounding births, or parents. They often reflect the lives of the persons. There are also times when God changes a person’s given name, and gives them a new one, such as Abraham, and Peter.
APPLY:
As my wife and I ponder the name to give our yet unborn son, we reflect on our own names, and what God has intended for our lives through the names our parents gave us.
Mine in particular means, “God gives” or “God is gracious”, and whether my parents know I live firmly in the belief that it is really only by God’s grace that has seen me to where I am today, serving Him faithfully, despite many ups and downs in my life. My wife’s name, Elysa, means “consecrated to God”, and it came in particularly handy when she was sharing about her calling to full-time ministry with her mother!
We also jokingly consider whether we know anyone with certain names that we are considering and whether they were naughty in school!
How much do we see our names as significant to our lives today?
Often, God may reveal certain reasons behind the names we have only much later in life. Sometimes, He gives us opportunities to be given new names, especially at our baptisms. He also gives parents opportunities to sow into the spiritual lives of our children right from birth.
DO:
In this year of intentional discipleship in the family, let us not underestimate the work that God can do through a family, and even through the act of naming a child. We shall strive to name our child as a testimony of God’s work in our lives, and as hope for his future.
I am constantly reminded to reflect on my own name. How God has made something completely outside my control to something I can appreciate, and even embrace as part of His providence.
Indeed, He is gracious!
PRAY:
Dear God, we thank You for your grace and providence that You have given to us through our families. Whether or not our parents intended it, You named us with a purpose. You knew us, even before we were formed in the womb.
As we reflect on our names, may our hearts be led to reflect on the ONE NAME that is above all other names. Because there IS power in the name of Jesus, and at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Amen!
