What's in a Name?

Names, places, people... they all matter to God. When I was getting ready to have my children, I looked excitedly through the Baby Name Book, paging through cover to cover and dreaming of the day I would hold my very own child and call him by name.

God cares about people and has given us a very detailed record of names in His book, the Bible. Take a look at Genesis chapter ten and eleven. You might be tempted to rush through this list of genealogies from Noah. But don't read too quickly. There might be some buried treasure!

In our last Interactive Bible Series post, the topic of Noah's son Ham was discussed. What exactly was Ham's sin that brought a curse on him and his family? Well, for one Ham was not respectful towards his father. Noah's drunken incident was wrong but the Bible often refers to Noah as a man who walked with God and obeyed the Lord. Noah was a man who found grace in the eyes of God because He loved God and wanted to do what was right. (Gen. 6:9, 22; 7:5) There is forgiveness with God for those who are sorry.

It's also been suggested by a Bible teaching pastor who knows the original language and has done extensive Old Testament studies that there probably was more involved to the incident with Noah's younger son. The word "saw" used in the text was an interactive verb, not just visual, but physical. Whatever happened, it was not good. It was so bad that Ham was doomed to become a servant of servants to his brothers. There are consequences to sin.

Take a look in Genesis chapter ten and you can see the line of Ham continues in their arrogance towards authority. One of the grandsons of Ham was named Nimrod. The Bible says Nimrod began to be a mighty one on the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD.

Now that may sound good at first, hey my oldest son loves to go deer hunting, but that's not what it means. Nimrod wasn't dressed in camouflage and standing in a tree stand. You can translate the word "before as against." Nimrod was a mighty hunter AGAINST the LORD. He was all about himself and fought like a mighty hunter against God and His authority.

If you check out chapter ten, verse ten you'll see that part of the beginning of his kingdom was Babel. He also built Nineveh. One of his descendants was the father of the Philistines. Also, the Amorites, Hivites, and Canaanites all came from the line of Ham to name a few.

Do any of these names of cities or nations sound familiar? Wow and double wow! These nations were a constant source of strife and ongoing violence against God's people and later the nation of Israel.

The Bible talks more about the city and tower the people were making in Babel. They wanted to make a name for themselves and in arrogance against God and disobedience they set out to build a city and tower whose "top is in the heavens." They did not want to be scattered around the earth.

But what did God tell people to do when Noah and his family came off the ark? Let's check out Genesis 9:1. "So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth." That wasn't the first time God told people to fill the earth either.

Then God himself says something very interesting in Genesis 11:7 after coming down to see the city and the tower of Babel. Yes, God knows all and sees all, but there were times He actually came down on earth physically before Jesus was born into the world as a human being 2000 years ago.

God says, "Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech." So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city." (Gen. 11:7) On a side note, notice the Bible says, "Us"? Don't discount the work of the Trinue God, Father, Son, & Holy Spirit - three persons, One eternal God.

Friends, it will never go well for us if we disobey the LORD. What is it that He is asking us to do? What is it that we are doing that we need to give up or stop? We can be sure that we will find the will of God for our lives when we search His Holy Word. He tells us what we should do and what we should not do. God is very clear. We can take His commands and principles and apply them to every life situation, every day of our lives. God will give us the power to do His will. He doesn't leave us isolated and alone. Remember, God cares about people. God cares about you and He wants what is best for you.

So here's today's Interactive Bible Series Question: In what ways have we worked against the Lord? In what way have we worked for the Lord? (folks, I came back in today, 10-24 and added this two part question that I meant to ask)

When reading about Shem's descendants we eventually come to a name that we'll be talking about in the next of our Interactive Bible Series. Terah had three sons and I'm sure you'll recognize the name of one of them because all the nations of the earth have been blessed because of God's promise to this man who believed God.

Until then, may we keep reading God's Word. Let the Holy Spirit speak to our hearts and minds, strengthening us for the tasks that He has for us to do. Whether at work, at home, or even for our children at school.

"A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold." Proverbs 22:1

Live the adventure,