Names are important to us. They give us an identity at the most basic level. And names are important to God. In the very beginning, God gave Adam the significant job of naming all the animals and birds, He had just created (Genesis 2:19-20). In Biblical times people had their names changed to a new name! The Biblical name changes I have mentioned below are not merely for the sake of change. In most cases, God changed their names to signify that they had been made new.
Abram to Abraham
Abraham's life was dictated by his father, who inexplicably
makes the decision to leave Ur, the centre of civilization in the ancient
Middle East, planning to take his entire family to Canaan (Genesis 11:31).
Abram had no choice. Genesis 12 changes everything.
The call of God sets Abram on the path to becoming the father of all who have
faith in God (Romans 4:11).
Genesis 17:5 became Abraham’s pivotal point. It
says, "No longer shall your name be Abram (exalted father), But your name
shall be Abraham (father of a multitude); For I will make you the father of
many nations." His name got changed from being an 'Exalted Father to a Few' to 'Father of a Multitude'.
Sarai to Sarah
Sarah had a similar metamorphosis. God said to Abraham in Gen
17:15, 16, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai (my
princess), but her name will be Sarah (Princess). I will bless her, and indeed
I will also give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she shall be a
mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her." Sarai signified my
princess, as if her honour were confined to one family only; Sarah signifies a
princess, namely, of multitudes.
Many More had Name Changes
Jacob, a name that meant a deceiver changed to Israel, which meant God perseveres. (Genesis 32:28) Similarly Peter got his name changed to Cephas by Jesus in Matthew 16:18. Simon (Simeon in Hebrew) has a meaning, “The one whom hears (Word of God)”, and Peter (Cephas in Hebrew) means “a rock”. The name change is to underline the transformation of the person from a person who just hears word of God to a spiritual rock whose foundation is strong. Saul became Paul, meaning a great man turned to a small man. Acts 13:9 is the only verse that mentions the name change. This was a name, Paul himself changed for an adaptation to the Roman audience. Perhaps he felt that he was the least of all apostles and so his new name meant a small man!
Earned Name
This is unique. His parents named him Joseph. He was raised in Cyprus. He was from a family in ministry. He owned a God given property. The best part is that he earned a new name, a good name! Yes, that was Barnabas, a name that was earned, a son of encouragement!
Acts 4:36 says: Now Joseph, a Levite and native of Cyprus, who was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means, 'son of encouragement'), sold a field belonging to him and brought the money and set it at the apostles' feet. This was the guy who invested his life in the super apostle, Saul alias Paul and the first one to write the gospel, John Mark.
Well, this is one thing which we all can aim for in our
generation. Both Proverbs 22:1 and Ecclesiastes 7:1 tell us how crucial it is
earning a good name. A good name is desirable than great riches. It is better
than precious perfume!
A New Name is Awaiting!
And the interesting part of this discussion is that we as
children of God are awaiting yet another new name! Revelation 2:17 says, “To
him who overcomes… I will also give him a white stone with a new name written
on it, known only to him who receives it.” Whatever that new
name might be, we know that it is promised to us directly from the words of
Jesus. It signifies that our reservation in Heaven has been made and it
signifies intimacy and love from Him to those who are His!
