Today's reading: Genesis 31, 32, 33; Psalm 11, 41, 71, 101, 131; Proverbs 11
Genesis 32:28, And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed."
I always seem to get frustrated when I read about Jacob. I am always thinking to myself, "Why did he do that?" The name Jacob means heel catcher. You remember the account of his birth. Esau came first but Jacob grabbed his heal on Esau's way out and thus came his name. What a thing to live your whole life with. It is sad to say that this family had a bit of a problem with deception.
I know there were families as I grew up that when you mentioned their name that it brought images and thought to your mind. Some were good thoughts. When you say the name Sherman Essex around our family it brings about great thoughts. This is a man that was the Pastor of Pittsboro Baptist Church for 34 years. I still remember the day God called him home. It was an Easter Sunday morning. I thank God for Pastor Sherman Essex. He is the one who showed me how to be saved.
I know when you say the name Jesus Christ there come with His name thoughts and feelings of all sorts. Some men in our world hate that name. This is so sad. How could one disdain the precious name of Jesus? They are blind to the truth of who He really is. The sad fact is that the devil wants to suppress the name of Jesus. Mr. Franklin Graham (son of the Evangelist Billy Graham) wrote the book, "The Name" and it cost him dearly. Thank God that he wrote it.
There is so much in a name and we take it for granted I believe. I once worked with a man that his last name meant "horse thief". Imagine having a banner like that hanging over you..
The great thing is that when you trust Jesus Christ as your Saviour, He changes your name. Much like Jacob becoming Israel. You get a whole list of new things. New life, destination and on and on. I would like for each one of us today to think about one final thought and I hope we really consider it.
If God changed your name, what would it be? Really?
