8-2-26 “When God Changes Your Name”
“When God Changes Your Name”
I want to start with something funny that I found an internet site: Mr. Smith was brought to St. Mary’s Hospital, a Catholic hospital, for emergency heart surgery. The operation went well and, as the groggy man regained consciousness, he was reassured by a Sister of Mercy, who was waiting by his bed. “Mr. Smith, you’re going to be just fine,” said the nun, gently patting his hand. “We do need to know, however, how you intend to pay for your stay here. Are you covered by insurance?”
“No, I’m not,” the man whispered hoarsely. “Then can you pay in cash?” persisted the nun. “I’m afraid I cannot, Sister.” “Well, do you have any close relatives?” the nun questioned sternly.
“Just my sister in New Mexico, but she’s a humble, spinster nun.” “Oh, Mr. Smith, I must correct you. Nuns are not spinsters-they are married to God,” the nun said. “Wonderful,” said Mr. Smith. “In that case, please send the bill to my brother-in-law.”
Have you ever heard how your parents came to name you? And do you know what your name means?
Most people’s names may have meanings. Most parents consider what name they choose for their children. My Korean name is Eun Ae, which means “grace and Love.” So, some people thought that I grew up in a Christian Family because my name seems to be a Christian name. But One night, on his way home, my father looked up and saw a beautiful galaxy shining in the sky. He thought it looked so graceful and lovely. When he arrived home, I had just been born. Remembering that beautiful sight, he named me Eun Ae, meaning “grace and love.”
Some people believe that a person’s name shapes his or her destiny. Whether or not that is true, names carried great significance in biblical times. The Israelites believed that a name reflected a person’s character and calling. Throughout Scripture, God often gave people new names to mark a new calling or a new beginning. For example, Abram to Abraham (father of nations); Sarai to Sarah;(mother of nations) Saul (a little one) to the Apostle Paul (a big one); Simon to the disciple Peter (rock) and more.
But above all these names, there is one name every believer shares. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are called “children of God.” That is our new identity. The gospel John 1:12 says, “Yet to all who did receive him [Jesus Christ], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” Also, the first Letter of John 3:1 says, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” Galatians 3:26 also says, “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.”
God gives us a new name being the child of God. God’s promise is true: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). If you have given your life to Christ, you are a new creation. In other words, we aren’t only called to become Christians; we are also called to be Christians. The Christian life is a new journey – one that will take us the rest of our lives. Our name, the children of God, might lead to our destiny, which is eternal life. Do you believe it?
Israelites seemed to be mindful of their names. As we study about Jacob, the name “Jacob” means “a supplanter,” “a cheater,” and “heel-catcher.” That name was given to him when he was born because he was grasping Esau’s heel with his hands. Jacob spent much of his life living up to his name. He deceived his brother Esau out of his birthright, tricked his father Isaac into giving him the blessing, and later found himself deceiving—and being deceived by—his uncle Laban.
After Jacob married Rachel, he tried to leave Laban. But, Laban dealt with Jacob again for his compensation he wanted Jacob to take every speckled, spotted, or dark-colored lamb and goat among all new sheep and goats. And then, Laban removed all speckled, spotted, dark-colored sheep and goats from the flocks Jacob takes care of. Laban put a three-day journey between himself and Jacob while Jacob continued to tend the rest of Laban’s flocks. And Jacob cheated Laban of all healthy sheep and goats to bear new speckled, spotted, dark-colored sheep and goats. Finally, Jacob prospered with lots of sheep and goats. And he was afraid of Laban knowing of his cheating. Again, he ran away from Laban. He decided to go back to his father’s house.
Now Jacob is in the wilderness again. But this time is different from when he fled from his brother Esau. Back then, he was alone and had nothing. Now he has four wives, eleven sons, one daughter, countless servants, and large flocks. Yet despite all he has gained, he is more afraid than ever because Esau is waiting for him.
Jacob develops a careful strategy before meeting Esau. Filled with fear and distress, he divides his people and flocks into two groups. He thinks, “If Esau comes and attacks one group, the other group may escape” (Genesis 32:7–8). Then he sends the first group and the second group ahead with his servants, instructing them to present all the livestock as gifts for Esau. Even so, Jacob’s fear and anxiety do not disappear. He sends his wives and children ahead of him as well. His fear keeps him from moving toward Esau himself. Finally, Jacob is left alone.
In the darkness, Jacob is alone. He may have recalled the past twenty-one years of his life—his deception, his flight from Esau, sleeping alone in the wilderness, and now once again finding himself alone in the desert. Shame, fear, and loneliness may have opened Jacob’s heart to God as never before. Perhaps, since his encounter with God at Bethel, this was the first time he truly cried out to God with all his heart in earnest prayer.
Genesis 32: 24 says, “Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.” The text simply tells us that “a man wrestled with him until daybreak.” Many scholars understand this mysterious figure to be an angel or a manifestation of God’s presence. What matters most, however, is that Jacob encountered God in the midst of his struggle.
Jacob’s struggle reminds us of Jesus praying in Gethsemane. Jesus knew the Father’s plan, yet He still wrestled in prayer. Likewise, the Apostle Paul pleaded three times for God to remove his “thorn in the flesh.” God did not remove it, but instead assured Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you.” Sometimes God changes our circumstances; other times He changes us within our circumstances.
Jacob knew he became a fugitive from brother Esau and Uncle Laban as the result of his cheating. He was alone in fear. Jacob said, I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” (Genesis 32:26).
Do you remember what we talked about last Sunday? We looked at Jacob’s conditional vow at Bethel: “If you will give me food to eat and clothes to wear, and bring me safely back to my father’s house, then you will be my God.” Jacob had forgotten God’s promises and God’s blessings. But now, once again a fugitive in the wilderness, he finally cried out to God.
Isn’t that true of us as well? Don’t we often turn to God most earnestly when we face difficulties, fear, or uncertainty in our lives? In His grace and patience, God gave Jacob a new name: Israel. It was a visible sign that his life had been changed. No longer would he be known simply as the deceiver. God gave him a new identity and a new beginning. Jacob walked away with a limp, but he also walked away with God’s blessing. Though physically weaker, he was spiritually stronger.
What about your life? Has a new sunrise dawned in your life since you became a Christian? Perhaps some of you are still wrestling through a long night. Don’t lose heart. The same God who met Jacob in the darkness still meets His children today. And when the sun rises, you may discover that God has not only changed your circumstances—He has changed you. You will walk into a new day with a new name, a new identity, and a new hope in Jesus Christ. So let us live each day as the people God says we are—not merely people with a new name, but people with a new life.
Thanks be to God. Amen!