1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. 2 And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly." 3 Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: 4 "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. 8 Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."
9 And God said to Abraham: "As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. (Genesis 17:1-9)
Most people in western culture do not change their names to fit their character. Usually they may change their name to fit their status. For example, my wife changed her last name-her maiden name-Hathaway, to fit her new married status as my wife and took my name. There was nothing wrong with her maiden name- in fact it was a very good name. Rock stars and celebrities often change their names, but not to match their character, but to make their celebrity status more marketable, catchy, or to sound strange in order to stand out. For example, singer Engelbert Humperdinck was born as Arnold Dorsey in India. But he adopted the name of an obscure German composer and was propelled to stardom. Sometimes criminals will change their name, usually as an alias or a.k.a. in order to evade police investigations.
Why would someone give up the only name they had known for 99 years and go with another one? Its because God gave him a new name- one that would signify a new era and a new covenant with God and His people. To the Hebrews, the meanings of personal names were significant. They were often descriptive of a person's character, or what their parents hoped that it would be. Abram's name changed from "Exalted Father" to "Father of Many Nations." Abraham would one day realize that promise from God as he saw his children being born even in advanced age.
Has God given you a new name? Your name may be the same, but if you are born again in Christ, you have a new life and a new purpose. It might be fun to pick out a new "spiritual name" to go along with your new character in Christ. It may not be one you would necessarily ask to be known as to people in public, but between you and the Lord to identify the new personality you are now as opposed to who you used to be. This may sound strange, but it may help you to identify who you are now in Christ.
Prayer: Dear God, no matter what name I am called by here on earth, I am thankful for the new life that You have given to me. Help me, by Your grace, to live up to the Holy Name by which I am known, through my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Have a blessed day!
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