What's in a Name?

February 11

We know God attaches great significance to names. Two prime examples of the importance of names are those of our first parents—Adam is derived from a word that refers to the color of the earth. The Bible tells us that God fashioned Adam from the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7) so the name given well suited him.

The helpmate God fashioned for Adam from one of his ribs (the first surgery ever performed is described in Genesis 2:21, 22) was named Eve, which means life. Since all subsequent human life sprang from this woman, the name God chose for her is extremely meaningful and descriptive of the role she was to play in human events. God has even changed the names of individuals as they have come into the fullness of the role He had for them.

Oshea, which means deliverer, was given a new name, Joshua, which means Jehovah delivers (Numbers 13:16). Oshea was born in captivity. It was the hope of his parents that he would be the one chosen to lead the Hebrews out of bondage. He was given the opportunity to do so and the Lord God wanted to make it abundantly clear that deliverance was ultimately from Him, so He changed Oshea’s name to reflect that truth.

Our deliverance from every kind of bondage is in the mighty name of Jesus (a form of the name Joshua) who is our Emmanuel, our God with us. We may exalt that name, knowing that when His praise is on our lips we are indeed in touch with the Majesty on High! We may cling to that name in times of trouble. We may call unto that name with the complete expectancy that He will indeed be with us and deliver us from every trial that ever may beset us!