What’s In A Name Part 1.mp3

What's In A Name? Part 1 "What's in a name?" is a quote from Shakespeare 's Romeo And Juliet where Juliet poetically says that a name is merely a label. This however is not what we see in the Bible. Throughout Scripture names are shown to be profoundly significant, representing a person's character, destiny, Divine connection and purpose. They often reveal a message from GOD from Genesis to Revelation. See Revelation 2:17 and 3:12. Our identity and our destiny is in Christ. In Scripture, giving someone a name establishes a relation of dominion, authority and possession towards them and relates it to the overlord's own sphere. In history it was the custom of rulers and kings, when they had conquered a city or nation, to give that city or the former leader of the conquered territory a new name, establishing control and authority over them. We will more at this later in this series. GOD gave Adam dominion over all the creatures on the earth abd demonstrated this by giving Adam the work of naming them. See Genesis 2:19 and Psalms 8 :6-8 The giving of someone a new name, different from their original name implies new rights and new obligations for the re-named person. It's like a trade mark, marking that person as belonging to the overlord and being under their authority and protection. Biblically this can be both positive and negative. Abram was given the new name of Abraham by GOD Himself. Abram means Exalted Father. Abraham means Father Of Many Nations. See Genesis 17:1-7 GOD also gave Jacob a new name. Jacob means Supplanter / One Who Seizes. He was renamed Israel meaning Triumphant With GOD /Prince With GOD See Genesis 32:27-28 The LORD Jesus changed Simon's name to Cephas ( Greek form of Peter). Simon means "hearing" and it is associated with "reed" because reeds, are easily swayed in the wind - swayed by hearing the voices in the wind. Cephas/ Peter means Rock signifying steadfastness. See John 1:42 and Matthew 16:16-18 We are now going to look at the 10 Hebrew names of the genealogy of Genesis chapter 5. In Genesis 5:1-4 we see that although GOD had made man in His own image and likeness ( Genesis 1:26-28), because of The Fall of Adam now the image of fallen Adam was, passed on from generation to generation. See Romans 5:12-21 and I Corinthians 15:22 Back to Genesis chapter 5: Firstly "Adam" means "man" and "earth /soil" from "adomah"- "son of the red earth" Secondly "Seth" meaning "placed /appointed compensation" As the 3rd son of Adam and Eve he was appointed to replace Abel whom Cain killed. See Genesis 4:25 Thirdly "Enosh" means "mortal/ frail" It's root meaning is "to be incurable" used for a wound, a sickness or a wickedness that has no cure. Fourthly "Kenan" means "sorrow /grief/ lamentation/ to mourn" . Fifthly" "Mahalalel" means "The Blessed God". "Mahalal" means "praise/ blessed" "El" means God. Sixth "Jared" means "shall come down" from the verb "yaradh" - to descend / come down Seventh "Enoch" meaning "trained /teacher /" Enoch was the first of 4 generations of preachers. In fact the earliest recorded prophecy was by Enoch concerning with the Second Coming of Christ. See Jude verses 14-15 Enoch did not physically die. He was, raptured, which means caught up by GOD. See Genesis 5:24 Eighth is "Methuselah" meaning "his death shall bring". It's literal meaning is "man of the dart/javelin/ spear" representing judgement. This is why he had such a long life, symbolising the grace and mercy of GOD giving opportunity for people to repent. It was in the year that Methuselah died- see the Biblical calculations of age given in the genealogy - that the Great Flood came. See also 2 Peter 3:9. Noah was a preacher of righteousness, warning the people of the impending judgment. See 2 Peter 2:5 Ninth "Lamech" means "to lament /despair" Tenth "Noah" means "Rest/Comfort" Now, if we read the meanings of those Hebrew names out in their order we get this : Man Appointed Mortal Sorrow The Blessed God Shall come down Teaching His death shall bring Rest/Comfort Here is a summary of GOD's plan of redemption within the genealogy of Genesis chapter 5. It's right there, laid out in the Torah, in Genesis the Book Of Beginnings, in the Hebrew names. It is the beginning of The Love Story of John 3:16. "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". Shalom shalom