What’s my Name
Written by Jordan Coar (Founder of Xzen Performance Coaching)
Human beings have a special relationship with the concept of naming. It’s the first job that Adam is given by the LORD in the Garden of Eden. There is a pattern in the Bible, especially the Old Testament, where a person’s name offers more information than simply what to call them in order to get their attention. A person’s name signified the circumstances surrounding their birth, as well as their identity.
There is no better example than the story of Jacob and Esau. Jacob, which in Hebrew approximates to “heel-grabber” or “deceiver”, is literally grabbing the heel of his twin brother as they are coming out of the womb of Rebakah. Jacob proceeds to live up to his name, deceiving both his brother Esau of his birthright, and his father of Esau’s blessing. Upon the execution of this deception, Jacob’s name ceased to be merely a name, it became a label for his mode of living. It was as if a life of conniving and deceiving others was predestined for him. That is, until he has an encounter with GOD in the form of an all night wrestling match.
At the conclusion of the match, Jacob begs the LORD to bless him, as HE does so by changing Jacob’s name to Israel, which literally means “he who wrestles with GOD”, although there are other variations.
This is a strange way to bless someone, as changing someone’s name doesn’t really make one’s life better. To fully understand the gravity of this supposed blessing, we must recall the prophecy of the Angel of the LORD to Rebakah before Jacob’s birth. The angel tells her that there are two nations within her womb and that the older will serve the younger. What GOD called Jacob superseded what Rebakah called Jacob. The name change from Jacob to Israel was a shedding of a label, and more importantly, a freedom to live as he was divinely destined to live.
What is your name? What have other people labeled you as? What have you labeled yourself as?
Revisiting Adam’s first job, there is a key verse that shows the power GOD has given us as it pertains to naming. Genesis 2:19 says, “Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name” (NIV).
Of course, the verse is referring to animals, but I believe this concept can be applied toward ourselves and other people. Whatever one allows themselves to be labeled as, regardless of who assigns the label, that is their name. Some people allow their past traumas to name them. Some people allow other people’s perception to name them. Some people allow their flaws or insecurities to name them. Then, like Jacob, they act these labels out to the extent that they become their identity.
What has GOD named you? How has your Creator labeled you? Will you, like Jacob, wrestle with GOD for your name? Will you let go of the past names and labels that don’t suit the person you were destined to be?
What’s my Name
