# 138 Naming Rights

The Book of Genesis Day 138 Ge 17:5 "No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. Finally, we can start calling Abram, Abraham! This is a very significant moment in the relationship between God and Abraham. You may recall how early on in the Book of Genesis, we discussed the importance of giving names. In ancient times, name givers demonstrated dominion over what was being named! God of course needs no such vehicle to prove His dominion, but He also knew it would be a vehicle that the ancient world would understand, and so He uses it in Holy Writ often. From the very beginning, when God called light, day, and darkness, night, to Adam naming the animals, and naming his wife Eve, to the naming of their children, we see this principle of the connection between dominion and naming in play!There is more! Later, God tells Abraham to change Sarai’s name to Sarah! (Ge 17:15) Then God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. Please note the chain of command here! God, with dominion over Abraham, Abraham with dominion over Sarah, but God with dominion over both! Some other examples in Scripture: The rebel Jacob wrestles with God, and after acknowledging God as Lord, God changes Jacob’s name to Israel! Pharaoh renames Joseph in Gen 41:45, “And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnath-Paaneah” Why was he allowed to do that? Because he had dominion over him! The chief official of Nebuchadnezzar renames Daniel and his three companions in Da 1:7 “To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.” Again, indicating dominion over them. Even in New Testament times, we read of Simon Bar Jonah, who upon confession of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, was renamed Peter by Jesus! Mt 16:17 “Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” Abraham’s name change was significant because he was about to become the father of a nation that will experience the personal dominion of God Almighty. Peter’s name was just as significant for the same reason. His confession of Jesus as Lord becomes the basis for the personal dominion of Jesus Christ in all who are believers. Why is this important for us today? It’s important because name changes matter! They are meant to reflect dominion in God’s created order! When my wife took on my last name on our wedding day, she was reflecting the transfer of her father’s dominion over her to me. This is all part of the very important aspect of “leaving and cleaving” in a marriage. It seems like a small matter, but anytime we can reflect the relationship between Jesus and His bride (the church) and His lordship (dominion) over us, we ought to seize it, especially in the matter of marriage, because that is its primary purpose! In marriage we are to reflect the relationship we have with Jesus via our relationship with our spouse! It seems the world needs to see a little more of that reflection from the church today! Pray: Lord, help us to understand the importance of names and Your created order, then help us to live it out in grace and mercy, always seeking to do Your will!