My Name for All Generations

There is a lot that goes into giving someone a name. I remember the challenge of naming my own child. I wanted her to have a name that would fit her personality and one that she would be proud of.   I have always loved my name, Jessica.  It has Hebrew origins meaning God beholds and wealthy one, and one with foresight.  Originally it was spelled Iscah in Hebrew.  Shakespeare used it in The Merchant of Venice where he adapted it to be spelled Jessica.  Fascinating.   In the Bible,  I have also loved how God gave Moses a name for himself to share with the people of Israel. Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” …. This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.” (Exodus 3:13-15.)

And when he names himself, we can be sure the name is filled with who he is and what he intends to do. God does not choose names for himself at random, say for the sound or for an ancestor or to avoid embarrassing nicknames. He chooses names for the sake of revealing things about himself that will deepen our love for him and enlarge our admiration and strengthen our faith.  He refers to himself as I Am who I Am. Have you every really thought about what that means?  To me it means several important things:

1. God exists. I want to make sure I live with this truth and not act as if it were a truth that makes no difference in my life.
2. God does not change. Aren’t you glad? In a world that changes all the time, He doesn’t. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
3. God is Power.  Isaiah 40:28 says, “Yahweh is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary.”
4. God is Saviour. God came to me personally. He met me on the road of sin, and He made a way to bring me back to himself. In John 8:56–58, Jesus is answering the criticism of the Jewish leaders. He says, “Your father Abraham rejoiced that he was to see my day; he saw it and was glad.” The Jews then said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly! I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” In Jesus Christ, we who are born of God have the unspeakable privilege of knowing Yahweh as our Father — I AM WHO I AM — the God of All.

Some of us love our names, and some of us do not, but all of us who put our faith in Jesus will have a new name some day. Until then we are under the love and guidance of the name above all names…. I AM.

Be Blessed,

Jessica

Author: Jessica Cox

Jessica teaches high school English and Creative Writing at Millennium High School in Goodyear, AZ. She is married and has a daughter in first grade. She has been attending VC since 2004. View all posts by Jessica Cox