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.

Series: FruitWorks~Rest

In Galatians 5:22-23, we are given a list of the fruits of the Spirit. They are the guidelines to which we conduct ourselves in our daily walk. These are nine different aspects of Godliness that we must adhere to in order to live to our fullest spiritual potential. They vary slightly, depending on the translation, but the foundational fruits of the Spirit are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. While at first glance, these all look the same, a closer look reveals small differences in their meanings, which translates to differences in their application and implementation. This article is meant to shed light on each of these nine characteristics of holiness, to explore their nuances and minute differences. Rest falls under the category of peace.

Rest

What is it? What does it look like? The modern definition for this word is most often linked to having a night’s sleep after a day’s work, or stopping for a break during working hours. But, what does this word really mean? How do we apply it? And, is there a Scriptural model?

The dictionary describes rest in the following way:

As a noun:

1. the refreshing quiet or repose of sleep
2. refreshing ease or inactivity after exertion or labor
3. relief or freedom, especially from anything that wearies, troubles, or disturbs
4. a period or interval of inactivity, repose, solitude, or tranquillity
5. mental or spiritual calm; tranquillity
6. the repose of death
7. cessation or absence of motion

As a verb:

1. to refresh oneself, as by sleeping, lying down, or relaxing
2. to relieve weariness by cessation of exertion or labor
3. to be at ease; have tranquillity or peace
4. to be quiet or still
5. to cease from motion, come to rest; stop
6. to base, or let depend, as on some ground of reliance

On the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. God blessed the seventh day, and made it holy, because he rested in it from all his work which he had created and made. Genesis 2:2-3

Yahweh came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was on him, and put it on the seventy elders: and it happened that when the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did so no more. But two men remained in the camp. The name of one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the Spirit rested on them; and they were of those who were written, but had not gone out to the Tent; and they prophesied in the camp. A young man ran, and told Moses, and said, 'Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!' Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his chosen men, answered, 'My lord Moses, forbid them!' Moses said to him, 'Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all Yahweh's people were prophets, that Yahweh would put his Spirit on them!' Numbers 11:25-29

So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said to Moses, and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war. Joshua 11:23

There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his. Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience. Hebrews 4:9-11

These verses having to do with rest are self-explanatory in that, if the Holy Spirit rests on us, and we are obedient to our calling, then we are assured of rest in our spirit, rest from our journey during, and at the end of this life, which means we are assured of rest in eternity.

Series: FruitWorks~Fulfillment

In Galatians 5:22-23, we are given a list of the fruits of the Spirit. They are the guidelines to which we conduct ourselves in our daily walk. These are nine different aspects of Godliness that we must adhere to in order to live to our fullest spiritual potential. They vary slightly, depending on the translation, but the foundational fruits of the Spirit are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. While at first glance, these all look the same, a closer look reveals small differences in their meanings, which translates to differences in their application and implementation. This article is meant to shed light on each of these nine characteristics of holiness, to explore their nuances and minute differences. Fulfillment falls under the category of peace.

Fulfillment

What is it? What does it look like? But, what does this word really mean? How do we apply it? And, is there a Scriptural model?

The dictionary describes fulfillment in the following way:

1. the act or state of fulfilling
2. the state or quality of being fulfilled; completion; realization

Fulfill is defined as:

1. to carry out, or bring to realization, as a prophecy or promise
2. to perform or do, as duty; obey or follow, as commands
3. to satisfy (requirements, obligations, etc.)
4. to bring to an end; finish or complete, as a period of time
5. to develop the full potential of

For I tell you that this which is written must still be fulfilled in me: 'He was counted with transgressors.' For that which concerns me has an end. Luke 22:37

Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord! Luke 1:45

For Christ is the fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Romans 10:4

Love doesn't harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:10

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, "It is finished." He bowed his head, and gave up his spirit. John 19:30

All of these verses have to do with something coming to an end, whether it be an actual end, or the foretelling of an actual end. As such, that is the reason that fulfillment falls under the category of peace.

When all things that we have set out to do have been accomplished; when we have come to the edge of everything, and cannot go any further; when our Godly assignment has been achieved, then we have fulfillment.

When our purpose has been shown, mapped out, walked, delivered, and done, then we have peace.

Series: FruitWorks~Friendship

In Galatians 5:22-23, we are given a list of the fruits of the Spirit. They are the guidelines to which we conduct ourselves in our daily walk. These are nine different aspects of Godliness that we must adhere to, to live to our fullest spiritual potential. They vary slightly, depending on the translation, but the foundational fruits of the Spirit are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. While at first glance, these all look the same, a closer look reveals small differences in their meanings, which translates to differences in their application and implementation. This article is meant to shed light on each of these nine characteristics of holiness, to explore their nuances and minute differences. Friendship falls under the category of love.

Friendship

What is it? What does it look like? The modern definition for this word is most often linked to getting a “thumbs-up on facebook. But, what does this word really mean? How do we apply it? And, is there a Scriptural model?

The dictionary describes friendship in the following way:  

1. the state of being a friend

A friend is defined as

1. a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard.
2. a person who gives assistance; patron; supporter
3. a person who is on good terms with another

We are given several examples of friendship in Scripture, and it looks completely different than our worldly, social-media driven view of it.

Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. -John 15:13

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn't know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you. -John 15:15

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. -Proverbs 17:17

A man that has friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. -Proverbs 18:24

The message given in these verses makes it clear that friends can be more reliable than family, and that Yeshua shows the true meaning of friendship in his relationship with us.

A friend is more than a social media profile; it is the genuine care and concern for another human being. It is a knowledge that, without that person, our lives would have a void in it, which makes that person valuable to us in ways that cannot be measured with money or possessions.