What's in a Name?

"See the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel, which is translated "God is with us."

- Matthew 1:23

How did you get your name?  Was it a name your parents liked?  Was it a family name?  Was it a name that was popular in culture during the time period you were born?  My first name was a name that my parents liked; and one of my middle names is a family name.  I also know of many children who have names that were based on movies or celebrities.  Names can be anything from traditional to interesting to down-right “what was the parent thinking?”  God knew what He was thinking when He chose the perfect name for His Son.  He chose a name that would span the ages of time and would be meaningful to all.

In the New Testament, we find that God, through His angel messenger(s), gave specific instructions to Mary and Joseph about what to name His Son.  In both Matthew 1:21b and Luke 1:31b, the couple is told, “…you will call His name Jesus.”  It’s interesting to note that in Hebrew, this special name means “The Lord Saves.”  Coincidence?  I think not.

As we study the Scriptures, we find that our Savior Jesus has many descriptions, which we also refer to as “names,” woven throughout the Bible.  Isaiah 9:6 tells us our Savior will be the, “Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.”  He is also described as Christ, Lord, Master, Messiah, Son of Man, Lamb of God, Light of the World, and so many more.  These descriptions help us to connect with and worship our Savior for the great and amazing things he has done and is doing in our lives.

In this season of my life, my favorite name of Jesus is “Immanuel.”  It’s actually the name that was prophesied for Jesus way before He was born.  “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).  The name Immanuel means “God With Us.” 

About this time last year, I was ever so mindful of the name Immanuel.  I was going through a very hard time of grief and loss – something that I haven’t really talked about publically.  It was one of the most painful things I have ever gone through in my life and I felt so alone in my sorrow.  Don’t get me wrong, my family and some close friends were there for me and walked with me through the valley, but I still felt like no one anywhere understood my exact feelings and my exact grief.  I came to really rely on the name of Immanuel because I knew He hadn’t forgotten me and was the only one who would walk every single second with me…and He has.

Our world is so uncertain and in such upheaval right now that having Jesus with us is about the only way we can make it through.  Devastation, loss, grief, violence, hatred – all of these are situations happening even as you read this blog that make you shake your head and feel hopeless.  If we place our hope in Immanuel, however, we can change our attitude into one of confidence because we know God is with us…always!  He will guide and direct us.  He will lead us through the valley.  He will help us know what to say and how to help others in their time of need.  Can you imagine how the world would react if we changed our attitudes to be one of hope during hardship?!

I find it so significant that Jesus’ last words on earth were such a testament to His name Immanuel – the name He was given and that was prophesied so many years before.  While ascending into heaven, looking at His disciples who were scared and unsure of when their Savior would return again, Jesus comforts them – and us, because we’re waiting too – with words that are so indicative of His given name.  “And remember, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).  Amen!

Giving Up on God?!

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.   We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. – 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

This is definitely a ridiculous thought, but what if God gave up on us?  Where would our hope lie?  Who would we turn to for help?  How would we make it through each day?  I don’t even want to ponder on that thought for too long…it’s much too scary.  Thank goodness none of that is true.  Thank goodness our hope is in God (Psalm 62:5) and His Son, Jesus (Hebrews 6:19)!  Thank goodness we can turn to Him in our time of need (Philippians 4:19)!  Thank goodness He’s with us every moment of our life (Isaiah 41:10)!  Not for a moment will He forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6).  God will never give up on us!

But what if we gave up on God?  Wait….shut the door….hold the phone….and say that again?!  Sounds crazy, right?!  I mean, how can we give up on God…the One who has loved, provided, and sustained us in our day to day life?  Sadly, there are many individuals out there today who are doing just that.  God doesn’t give them what they want, provide when they need it, show up when they ask, and so they just up and say “Forget it, God, I’m through.”  They turn to other religions and others to no religion at all.  God wasn’t who they thought He was.  It’s heart-wrenching to watch people reject God, use His name in vain and change their lifestyle to one that isn’t God-honoring.  And if I think it’s heart-wrenching, imagine what God thinks.  I don’t even want to ponder on that thought too long…it’s much too sad.

We are a most undeserving people.  Undeserving of His grace, undeserving of His mercy, and undeserving of His love; and yet, He gives it ALL to us anyway.  Through our hard and confusing times, He is with us…holding our hand every step of the way.  God is a giving God, but He’s not going to be “Big ‘Ole Papa Bear” and spoon-feed us our every wish and desire.  We are going to have hard times and we are going to face challenges, however, God won’t abandon us (2 Corinthians 4:8-9) AND He won’t give up on us while we try to figure out those challenges (Psalm 46:1).  We may make wrong decisions and there may be consequences from God regarding those wrong decisions, but He will still be with us during those consequences, teaching and molding us to be more like Him.

I think a perfect example of this is Moses and the children of Israel who traveled in the wilderness for 40 years before they ever got to the Promised Land.  I have a strong feeling that somewhere in the twenty-third year many began to wonder if God was even looking out for them.  I’m sure some just wanted to throw in the towel and follow someone else besides God.  Here they were…twenty-three years into this journey and still NOTHING.  Moses writes that the people of Israel “complained and said, ‘The Lord must hate us.  That’s why he has brought us here from Egypt – to hand us over to the Amorites to be slaughtered.’”  But Moses, as God’s messenger, said to them, “Don’t be shocked or afraid of them!  The Lord your God is going ahead of you.  He will fight for you just as you saw him do in Egypt.  And you saw how the Lord your God cared for you all along the way as you traveled through the wilderness, just as a father cares for his child.”  That wasn’t enough for the children of Israel; they griped and complained some more and basically didn’t believe God was going to do anything which made God very angry.  Moses tells them, “When the Lord heard your complaining, he became very angry.  So he solemnly swore, ‘Not one of you from this wicked generation will live to see the good land I swore to give your ancestors.”  (Deuteronomy 1:26-40) 

God gave the people of Israel what they needed at that certain time in their journey, but it wasn’t good enough for them and they definitely let God know that.  They kinda/sorta gave up on Him.  God wasn’t going to give up on His people and He still loved them, but He had to give them a consequence for their actions…as any father would do.  The consequence was that they wouldn’t get to see the Promised Land, only their descendents would.  This consequence, I’m sure, taught the children of Israel a very valuable lesson – don’t question God’s commands and instructions.  Obey Him and follow Him.  He knows the plans for His people and will reveal them in His time (Ecclesiastes 3:11).  He expects that of us too…we are, after all, His children as well. 

We are loved and valued by the Creator of the very world…think about that for a moment!  As our Creator, He is also our Father and we must respect His commands and trust His purpose for our lives.  It may seem like things aren’t happening the way we want them to happen and it may seem like hard times are chasing us like a cat chases a mouse, but through every. single. moment. God is there.

God’s not giving up on us, so let’s not give up on Him!

Scripture verses used in this post:

• Psalm 62:5- “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.”
• Hebrews 6:19- “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”
• Philippians 4:19- “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
• Isaiah 41:10- “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
• Deuteronomy 31:6- “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
• 2 Corinthians 4:8-9- “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.   We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.”
• Psalm 46:1- “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
• Ecclesiastes 3:11- “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”