A New Name

There was a day when the talk of your family was that you had taken your first step. In a moment, your parents had a new word to describe you: you had become a "Walker". A great enough accomplishment to warrant a new title! But when was the last time someone called you a Walker? Your deed of that day is as great at this moment as it ever was, but new and greater titles have superceded that one. You are now Student or Worker or Wife or Husband. Each name a testimony to the beauty of who you are on the inside and the glory of what you can do. There was a day when the talk of the Ancient Near East was that Yahweh, the God "I Am", demonstrated His power to the world. The "God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob" became the "God who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt". He was known by this title of supreme power for 1000 years. No nation could resist, no world system could impose its will upon Him. Though Pharaoh sought with all his might to enslave the people of God, he was no match for the God of those people. As Israel plundered the wealth of Egypt and destroyed her army, the power of the "God who bought the Israelites up out of Egypt" was displayed. But Jeremiah was told of the day when this title would be superceded by another. For God would be known by a new deed. Once again He would rescue Israel from slavery in another nation. But this time, it would be a rescue from a banishment which He Himself had caused. Beyond His strength, God's new title would reflect both His holiness and His forgiveness. His banishment of Israel in the first place showed that He would not tolerate their spiritual adultery in chasing after other gods. His restoration demonstrated that He will not give up on loving His people. As Hosea was told to faithfully love an adulterous woman, God faithfully loves even those who run from Him. And so God's title became the "Lord who restores whom He has banished". Oh the mystery of Him who is both holy and forgiving! Yet God's glory and beauty were still but partially revealed. Would the world be eternally caught between banishment and restoration? How can we live in marriage-love with this God whose righteousness is so far beyond our own? Will I forever be grasping for His unreachable standard and falling in failure to be picked up again by His forgiveness? As He answered this question, as He made the depth of His love known, God gained a new name. In a cattle stall in the city of David, God revealed His new name: Jesus -- "Yahweh heals". Yes, He is strong. Yes, He is holy. Yes, He is forgiving. Yes, He restores those whom He has banished. But in Jesus we see Him in perfection: God also heals His people. He makes us whole, taking the banishment and punishment for our unrighteousness upon Himself. "If Jesus make you free, you shall be free indeed" (?). No longer are we to be tossed between our failure and God's forgiveness. We are eternally free of our burden because it is Yahweh who has made us whole. And for eternity we shall say, "As surely as Jesus saves His people from their sins". I am a Walker and if I ever stopped to think about it I would realize how amazing a thing that is. But I don't think about that very much. The accomplishment of that day has been superceded by greater deeds. And though God is still the One who is greater than Egypt, today I know Him as Jesus. And my name has been changed as well, to "My Beloved".

Rob Barrett