Closing This Door to Open Another

Hello to all the readers we have had in the past 5+ years. We are not only beginning a new chapter in our ministry, but a new book, so to speak. The blog will be archived so that it can still be accessed, but our focus is now on one blog, with a different theme, and an updated message. Click on the picture below to read our first post from the new blog and, if you would like to follow us there, that would be wonderful. Thank you all for making our little ministry blog a part of your reading material.

Series: Namesakes~Reuben

Our names are more than just what we are called. They can reveal a lot about our character. When God gave names, or changed names, in Scripture, it signified that a change was about to take place in the lives of those whose names were changed. Do you have a Scripture-based name? Are you living up to the character of that name? Or, do you feel a name-change is in order?


Reuben
“Look: a son!”


Hebrew Transliteration: Re'uven

Hebrew Spelling: רְאוּבֵן


Anyone with the name “Reuben” can look very much like his namesake in Scripture. Here are a few examples of the characteristics of the name.

Genesis 29:32

Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Reuben. For she said, "Because Yahweh has looked at my affliction. Now my husband will love me."

Leah, the unloved wife of Jacob, was so pleased that she had birthed a son, that she gave him a name so that, every time that it was spoken, that fact would resonate.

Genesis 49:3-4

Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength; excelling in dignity, and excelling in power. Boiling over as water, you shall not excel; because you went up to your father's bed, then defiled it. He went up to my couch.

The firstborn always gets the bulk of chores and responsibilities as they mature. And, as a result, the reward that is strictly reserved for the adult is thought to be deserved. Hence Reuben taking Jacob’s concubine to bed, and hindering himself from receiving a more befitting blessing as the firstborn.

Deuteronomy 27:13

These shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

The tribe of Reuben was one of the six chosen to speak out the curses to the people, as a witness that they had been told how to live in the Promised Land, and what would happen if they failed to do so. So, by extension, a “Reuben” may be used in that same way in today’s world.

Deuteronomy 33:6

Let Reuben live, and not die; Nor let his men be few.

This is the blessing spoken over the families descended from Reuben, spoken by Moses. The fact that he asked for the tribe of Reuben to “live” and that his numbers not diminish says that his descendants must have been in danger of doing just that.

Genesis 37:21-22, 29

Reuben heard it, and delivered him out of their hand, and said, "Let's not take his life." Reuben said to them, "Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him"—that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father... Reuben returned to the pit; and saw that Joseph wasn't in the pit; and he tore his clothes.

Reuben took the responsibility for his younger brother seriously. He did this because, deep down, he loved his brother, even if he was irritated by him. And, he loved his father, despite the fact that it was common knowledge that Joseph and Benjamin were the father’s favorites.

Series: Namesakes~Jacob, Rachel & Leah

Our names are more than just what we are called. They can reveal a lot about our character. When God gave names, or changed names, in Scripture, it signified that a change was about to take place in the lives of those whose names were changed. Do you have a Scripture-based name? Are you living up to the character of that name? Or, do you feel a name-change is in order?

Jacob

Supplanter

from aqab meaning heel-catcher; that is, a supplanter, which means taking the place of another through scheming, force, or strategy; to trip up or overthrow

Genesis 25:29-33

Jacob boiled stew. Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. Esau said to Jacob, "Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am famished." Therefore his name was called Edom. Jacob said, "First, sell me your birthright." Esau said, "Behold, I am about to die. What good is the birthright to me?" Jacob said, "Swear to me first." He swore to him. He sold his birthright to Jacob.

Genesis 27:35-37

He said, "Your brother came with deceit, and has taken away your blessing." He said, "Isn't he rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright. See, now he has taken away my blessing." He said, "Haven't you reserved a blessing for me?" Isaac answered Esau, "Behold, I have made him your lord, and all his brothers have I given to him for servants. With grain and new wine have I sustained him.

Rachel

Ewe

Hebrew Transliteration: Rahel

Hebrew: רָחֵל

Rahel: from an unused root  meaning to make, or go on, a journey; as female sheep are predominant in the flock, and are good travelers

Leah

Weary

Hebrew Transliteration: Leah

Hebrew: לֵאָה

Leah: from la’ah meaning weary

from a primitive root word meaning to tire, to grieve, to loathe, to faint, to be or make disgusted

Genesis 29:9-12,17

And while he yet spoke with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she kept them. And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father.

Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive.

Series: Namesakes~Isaac & Rebekah

Our names are more than just what we are called. They can reveal a lot about our character. When God gave names, or changed names, in Scripture, it signified that a change was about to take place in the lives of those whose names were changed. Do you have a Scripture-based name? Are you living up to the character of that name? Or, do you feel a name-change is in order?

Isaac

Laughter

English spelling: Isaac

Hebrew Transliteration: Yitschaq

Hebrew Spelling: יִצְחָק

from tsachaq meaning laughter, play, make sport

from a primitive root word meaning to laugh

outright (in merriment or scorn)

Genesis 17:17, 19, 21

Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, "Will a child be born to him who is one hundred years old? Will Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth?"... God said, "No, but Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his seed after him. ... But my covenant I establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year."

Isaac’s name comes from what both his mother and father did when they learned that Sarah would be having a son at ninety years old, not from an indication that his life would be filled with humor. Isaac’s purpose was set, regardless of the name given him.

We can think of Isaac’s name when God gives us a prophecy that we know is humanly impossible,  and then laugh with pleasure when it comes about.

Rebekah

Agreement

English Spelling: Rebekah/Rebecca

Hebrew Transliteration: Ribqah

Hebrew: רִבְקָה

from an unused root  meaning to bind by tying up the fetlock; fettering (by beauty); by extension, a binding, an agreement, a joining together

Genesis 24:56-59

He said to them, "Don't hinder me, since Yahweh has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master." They said, "We will call the young lady, and ask her." They called Rebekah, and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" She said, "I will go." They sent away Rebekah, their sister, with her nurse, Abraham's servant, and his men.

Genesis 24:65-67

She said to the servant, "Who is the man who is walking in the field to meet us?" The servant said, "It is my master." She took her veil, and covered herself. The servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. He loved her. Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

The Rebekah in Scripture served her name well, by agreeing to go with Abraham’s servant, and then joining together with Isaac to become his wife. When it came time for Isaac to bless his elder son, she made sure that Jacob got the blessing. Some have faulted her for this, but I believe she acted out of the knowledge that was given to her by God, which was a binding agreement between the two of them.

photo courtesy of http://www.personalcreations.com/ |  License

Series: Namesakes~Abraham & Sarah

Our names are more than just what we are called. They can reveal a lot about our character. When God gave names, or changed names, in Scripture, it signified that a change was about to take place in the lives of those whose names were changed. Do you have a Scripture-based name? Are you living up to the character of that name? Or, do you feel a name-change is in order?

Abram/Abraham

Responsibility

Abram

Ab means chief, principal, 

from a primitive root word meaning father, chief 

(The same word that Yeshua used when he cried Abba, Father.)

Ruwm means exalted, haughty, 

from a primitive root word that means to be high above, to rise or raise, to bring up, to exalt or be exalted.

Abraham

Ab is the same; nothing changed.

Raham means a multitude.

So, Abraham went from being a father exalted (alone), to being the father of a multitude.

As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, And you will be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you. I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. (Gen. 17:4-6)

Are you the father of a multitude, either literally or figuratively? Are you an established leader, having the responsibility of those around you? As an Abram, are you a productive member of society, having the respect of your spouse, colleagues, and neighbors? As an Abraham, are you responsible for your children, raising them as a Godly father, setting an example before them? Whether you are an Abram, or an Abraham, the key word is responsibility.

Sarai/Sarah

Security

Sarai

Sar means chief, captain, general, lord, keeper. 

from the word sarar which means to be or act as a prince, to rule, a head person (of any rank or class) a captain, chief, general, governor, keeper, lord, ruler, steward. 

from primitive root word that means to have or exercise dominion, to rule.

Ai is a feminine suffix, which makes any word that it is attached to become the feminine version of that word. It is also associated to barrenness. (Gen. 11:30)

Sarah

Sar is the same~nothing changed.

Ah is also a feminine suffix, and changes the meaning to lady, princess, queen, and takes away the barrenness.

So, Sarah went from a barren leader to a leader of royalty. (Gen. 17:16)

Then God said to Abraham, As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and indeed I will give you a son by her. Then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her. (Gen. 17:15-16)

In this name change, God did not change the basis of who they were; instead, he built upon it. Both before the name change and after, Sarah's status in relation to Abraham did not change. Sarah did not lose her 'royalty' status, rather she was promoted in it; she would have an heir to carry it on.

Do friends and colleagues confide in you because they trust you? Do others look up to you as a role model? As a Sarai, do you make those around you feel safe and secure? As a Sarah, are you a guardian and protector of your children, keeping them out of harm’s way, giving them the love and support they need? Whether you are a Sarai, or a Sarah, the key word is security.