What’s in a name? The Bible tells us the name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe (Proverbs18:10). Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth (Psalms 124:8). Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13).
In the early chapters of Genesis, things were not going well in the world. Adam and Eve disobeyed God and had lost their position in paradise. Then their son, Cain, murdered his brother, Abel. After that, the genealogy of Cain’s family enjoyed a measure of prosperity. They experienced an increase of knowledge and craftsmanship, but everything they did seems to be accomplished independent of God–there is no acknowledgment of Him. When another brother of Cain, Seth, had a son, some began to understand their need for something–Someone–beyond themselves. Life independent of God does not work in the long-term. The Bible tells us that at that time, men began to call on the name of the Lord (Genesis 4:26).
The history recorded in the Bible shows that those who ignored God and did life their own way became more and more corrupt. When the corruption spread through the world to such an extent that God could not let it continue, He destroyed the world with a flood. Only Noah, a descendant of Seth, was found righteous in God’s sight. Noah listened to and obeyed God, and God preserved Noah and his family in the flood. (Genesis 6-8)
To “call on the name of the Lord” is to trust Him and seek Him for who He is. Our finite minds can only grasp a small portion of His infinite majesty, so we have limited understanding of His nature. His name encompasses all that He is. Scripture gives many names for God. Each one gives us insight into His character.
He is our Everlasting Father. He is our Healer, Provider, and Protector. He is The Sovereign Lord, The Good Shepherd, and The Rock. He is the Lord, God Most High. He is the Bread of Life, the Living Water, and God Almighty. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is the Alpha and the Omega–the beginning and the end. He is our Savior. He is Faithful and True. He is our peace. And so much more. He is unchanging.
When God identified Himself to Moses, He referred to Himself as, I Am. He is everything we could ever need. He is self-existent, and self-sustaining. He holds everything together. Apart from Him, we are helpless. We could not draw the next breath without His enabling it.
To “call on the name of the Lord” is to recognize our need for Him. It is to worship Him. It is to know He is God and we are not. It is to acknowledge this is His world and He has the authority to set the rules.
The Bible reveals two kinds of people: Those who seek God and want to honor His name, or those who are only interested in making a name for themselves. Those who know God and want to do life His way, or those who insist on doing whatever seems right in their own eyes. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. Psalms 20:7 NIV
What’s in a name? In the name of Jesus is everything we need for life–now and forever.
Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you. Psalms 9:10 NLT
Where do you put your trust? Please leave a comment below.
Blessings,
Phyllis
Copyright 2024 Phyllis L. Farringer
Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay
Thank you, Phyllis. Reading all those names made me feel more secure and at peace.
Thank you, Elizabeth. Thinking about who God is does make us feel more secure.