I had so much fun hearing about everyone’s wedding dresses yesterday! If anyone missed that conversation but want in on it, I’ve posted some pictures of the dresses described by readers too. Check it out here.
And of course, we have a new winner of Ring of Secrets — Deborah Dunson! — And only two more days to enter for this!
What is about names that have such power? Ever wonder about that? I sure have–I even wrote a 20-page essay on the subject in college, LOL, based largely on biblical names. So you can bet I put a lot of thought into my kids’ names, and that I put thought into each character name too. I could ramble on about that. But today I want to talk about another Name.
Because yesterday this just LEAPT out at me and made me scratch my head:
“Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Beware of Him and obey His voice; do not provoke Him, for he will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in Him.”
~ Exodus 23:20-21
God’s name–now that’s a powerful thing! So powerful that it’s one of the commandments–“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7)
So powerful that it is being itself: “Tell them I AM has sent me to you.” (Exodus 3:14)
This is something I know…and yet I don’t think I fully understand it. Because we have so many names for God. You can find list upon list of them, entire Wikipedia articles about it. He is so much to us. Alpha and Omega, Jehovah-Jirah, Elohim.
But that passage from Exodus 23 doesn’t say “My names are in Him.” It says My name. One. God has one name, His true name…and we don’t know it. Jesus no doubt did, but He called Him “Abba.” Daddy. Papa, as my kids call my hubby. My little ones know his name is David, but they don’t use that name. They shouldn’t, because it doesn’t speak their love.
I daresay no other man knows the true name of God though. And why? Because that name is power. Power to destroy, to judge, to rule. It’s the power of God Himself. That’s pretty amazing. I’ve yet to find another passage where God gives His name–His true name–to any being. But here, as He’s preparing to take Moses to Sinai…that was a pretty special time.
And that really makes me pause. Even given that I know only the human names for my Lord…am I using them right? When I call upon Him, do I mean it? Do I ever sigh out an “Oh, Lord” that means nothing? Or even if I’m calling to Him…do I need it? Bear with me, now. 😉
This is another section of Exodus that struck me the other day. It’s when they’ve come to the Red Sea, Pharaoh’s army is closing in, the children of Israel cry out to Moses. Moses says, “Don’t be afraid, y’all! Just wait and see–salvation’s coming. The Lord’s got it all under control. He’ll fight for you, I promise.” (The Roseanna Paraphrase Version. Which usually has a few more “dude”s in it…LOL) And God replies to Moses’s plea:
“Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it.”
Did you catch what stood out to me? Why do you cry to Me? That left me dumbfounded. Because, well, shouldn’t we?? Isn’t prayer to be our first response?
Yes.
But…God had already made the promise. God had already led them with fire and smoke. God had already spoken, had spared, had afflicted the enemy. More, God had already lent His power to Moses for this. That’s what I took from that verse. He isn’t saying, “Don’t bother me, kid.” He’s saying, “Did you forget the power I put in your rod? Just stretch it out, dude. That’s all you gotta do.” (See–“dude.”) 😉 That “but” isn’t, I don’t think, a conjunction–it’s not saying, “but since you insist, do this.” It’s a an adverb. A “merely.” Just lift up your rod.
Sometimes it’s so hard to remember that God, especially through the salvation of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit, has already given us at least a portion of the power of His name. It’s within us, all the time. And while I don’t know the Name to call him…I know the title.
Abba. Father. God of my end (as they pray in the Culper Ring books, taken from Puritan prayers). When the wilderness lies before me, when the enemy’s closing in behind, help me to remember that You’ve already put salvation in my hand.
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.
My name mean pure. It has such a clear meaning. It one of those names that no one can ever completely live up to, at least until they reach heaven.
This is a very neat post! Thanks for sharing!
What does your name mean?
Roseanna, I don't see my comment in the list here, but I did leave one yesterday. Could it have slipped into your spam folder by accident? Thanks!
My name means "The father's joy" or "source of joy"
My name means Bee and My middle names means God is gracious.
My name (first and middle) means Grand River Girl, or Noisy River Girl. Not sure which one represents my true self. 😛
My name (Rebekah) means snare.
That should say My almost 7 year old granddaughter!
I had never like the meaning of my name "woman of Magdala" since it said to me "oh, you sinner" until I came across the book "The Name Book" by Dorotha Austin. In there the meaning is listed as "marvelous one" or "magnificent one". Ever since, when I meet a new Madelyn (of any spelling) I try to make sure that she and her mom know that the name means marvelous one. My middle name means beautiful. So when I named my girls I have 1. "Beautiful light" 2. "Heavenly Messenger beautiful" 3. "Womanly One Gift of God" and 4. "Devinely Inspired Beloved." My son is "Gods Gift Beloved".
My almost granddaughter was walking around when we were visiting in March saying "Grace descending Christmas." I couldn't figure out what was going on, so finally asked her. It is the meaning of my name! was the response.
god is my oath
My name means "God is gracious." AND… He is.
My middle name, Marcia, means warlike.
I also LOVE names and always look up their meanings. I was going to name my son Cameron, until I found out it meant "bent nose." There goes that idea LOL.
My first name, "Anne", means "gracious, merciful" and the origin is Hebrew. My middle name (which I rarely tell anyone!), "Romania" comes from the Latin word "Romanus" which means "citizen of the Roman Empire." I have no idea why that name was given to my grandmother and certainly not why it was passed on to me. I would have preferred a different middle name. Not very gracious of me, huh?
Centuries ago Carol was traditionally a male name (from German or English). It has many different meanings. I like to go with joyful or with song (although I can't sing at all). cespeary(at)yahoo(dot)com
Andrea is the feminine form of Andrew. Andrew means "manly", Andrea means "womanly". I was fascinated to learn that Andrea saw the height of its popularity in 1978, which is a few years before I was born. Huh, I would have expected to meet more people in my age bracket who share my name! 🙂 Love your thought-provoking posts Roseanna! Thanks for sharing.
My name means Pretty Girl.
That was, strangely, one of the first things I learned about Hebrew–we had a guy in our church when I was a kid who would always pray "Daddy God, we come before you…" and had to explain it to us little ones. 😉 So cool, isn't it? I didn't know Bubah or taiym though! Fun!
Mary means a wished for child.
So true! The name of Jesus–yeah, that's an amazing one, and one we KNOW. And I had no idea Rachael meant "ewe"–I'd go with "little darling" too, LOL. =)
My name means Father's Delight. 🙂
My actual name, spelled Deborha, was not listed. Debbie, however, means Bee.
Ewe Pure Valley-Twig
I understand "ewe" was an old testament endearment equating with "little darling," which makes me feel a bit better about being named after one of the least intelligent critters on the planet. Valley Twig comes from my maiden name, but I've no idea about my husband's surname, which was mutilated in immigration and the meaning lost with the original spelling.
Names are powerful stuff: we know that because God has exalted Jesus above all names, that at His name EVERY knee shall bow – in Heaven, on the earth, and under the earth – and EVERY tongue confess that He is Lord (Phil 2:9-11). That includes angels, demons, humans, the dead and alive, and even the devil himself. Glad I'm already on the Lord's side!
My name is Vicki, which is a pet name for Victoria, which is what my mom was originally going to name me and then decided–Hey! everybody will probably call her Vicki anyway, so why not just Vicki? I had however, always wished it was Victoria, because that sounds so much more regal & Victorian. I have actually considered paying to change it, but maybe I will just have to write a book and use it for my pen name. 😉
My name is Latin, & means: conqueror; victory, or as I often say, victorious!
As to names of God, (you mentioned Abba) Did you know that Abba, does not just mean Father, but it is the name that Hebrew babies call their Daddy! I babysat a little Hebrew gal, (about 18 mo. old, many years ago) and that is what she called her daddy–so if we call God Abba, we are calling him Dada, or Daddy–I LOVE that idea. Just for added info, I also learned that, Bubah (pronounced Boo-bah) is dolly and taiym (pronounced Tie-eem) means tasty–when a baby likes the food being fed to her/him, she/he would say taiym–just a little Hebrew trivia…
Vicki
My name "Maxie" means greatest. 🙂 Hoping I can win something in this give-away.
MAXIE mac262(at)me(dot)com
Mine means fair spirit 🙂 Love it!
Im in awe over my name It means follower of Christ
God bless you
Chris Granville
My name means beloved!:)