There is power in a name.

Your name can shape your identity and pave your destiny.

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. (Proverbs 22:1)

The influence of a name

Adam called his wife Eve because she would become the mother of all living (Genesis 3:20).

The wages of sin is death.

Thus, after Adam fell into sin, death claimed his second son by the hands of his first son.

Then after some years past when Adam was 130 years old, his wife gave birth to a third son who was born in the image and likeness of his father.

Adam named his son Seth because he was compensation for the two sons he had lost (Genesis 5:3).

The lineage of Seth continued to serve the Lord, but there was evil on the land due to the contamination of humans by Satanic seed (Genesis 6).

However, God provided a son through Lamech (a descendant of Seth) who was perfect in his generation.

Lamech named his son Noah because he would comfort the people concerning their work and toil of their hands, because of the ground that the Lord hath cursed (Genesis 5:29).

Indeed, God chose Noah and his family to replenish the earth after it was cleansed by a flood (Genesis 9).

The name, Noah means rest and so the earth rested after God cleansed it of all the evil.

It is the nature of man to sin, so some of the descendants of Noah returned to sin and iniquity causing God to once more intervene and separate the people.

During that time, a descendant of Shem was born and he was called Peleg because in his days was the earth divided (Genesis 10:25).

As noted in the above examples the names of certain individuals connoted a significant change in the lives of the people on earth.

God placed tremendous importance to a name, hence He changed the names of certain individuals in the bible to change their destiny and reinforce their characters.

God changed the name of Abram to Abraham because He promised that he would become the father of many nations.

God also changed the name of Abraham’s wife from Sarai to Sarah because the Lord promised to bless her, and give her a son and she would become the mother of nations. Many kings and people would come out of her loin (Genesis 17).

Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, was saddled with the name of a supplanter.

Consequently, he supplanted his brother, Esau, twice by taking away his birthright and his blessings (Genesis 27:36).

The name Jacob was a curse and it prevented him from walking into his destiny.

Thus, one night Jacob came face to face with God and wrestled with Him all night until the breaking of the day and would not let go until he received a blessing.

So God changed Jacob’s name to Israel because as a prince he had power with God and with men, and prevailed (Genesis 32).

The twelve tribes of the great nation of Israel came from the loins of Jacob because of the blessings of his name Israel.

One of the wives of Jacob, Leah, competed with the other wife for their husband’s love.

But, God saw the plight of Leah and gave her many sons for her husband.

Leah named her children according to her circumstances. You can read about it here.

The word name is recorded over one thousand times in the KJV Bible and for each instance, there was a significant lesson to be learned about the importance of a name.

But, let us look at one significant name which is the name above all names and at His feet every knee will bow and confess that He is Lord (Philippians 2:10).

Before the birth of this special child, the angel prophesied that He would be called JESUS because He would save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).

On the eight-day after Jesus’ birth, His parents obeyed the instructions of the Lord and called their son “Jehovah is salvation.”

And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, His name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before He was conceived in the womb. (Luke 2:21)

When Jesus was thirty years old He began His ministry to preach the kingdom of God.

He healed the sick, drove out demons, delivered the captives and healed the brokenhearted.

Jesus mighty work was spread all over the country and many people believed in His name because there is power in the name of Jesus.

Now when He was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in His name, when they saw the miracles which He did. (John 2:23)

Jesus fulfilled His mission upon this earth when He died on the cross. Jesus’ death and resurrection finally lifted the curse of sin upon this earth.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:14-17)

Therefore,

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1John 1:9)

The Lord Jesus Christ rose from the grave and returned to heaven, but one day He will return to earth as the conquering King.

And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God.

And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords. (Revelation 19:13,16)

Lessons Learnt

Sometimes you have to persevere on your knees until God changes your name to the destiny He had in store for you.

Power and victory are in the name of Jesus.

When you look at His nail-pierced hands and believe in His name you will be saved.

SALVATION

Share with us other lessons that you have learned about the importance of a name.