Whats in a Name?

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

I have often made references to names when teaching or in letters to you, and for a very good reason. NAMES ARE FOR IDENTIFICATION. Throughout the Bible names reveal the character, or identity, of their bearer.

Unlike names today which are chosen for their fashion, their sound, or their similarity to other peoples names, in the Bible names were used to identify CHARACTER TRAITS, physical features, birthplaces, unusual events,...even future promises. Places, people, both were named for IDENTIFICATION. They were identified by THEIR NAME. Again, that is the purpose of names.

A good example of this custom which appears in more modern times is found among the American Indians who named their children according to events. A mother, for example, having seen a “running bear” shortly after the birth of her son, would name her child accordingly. It was considered an omen proclaiming a spiritual revelation concerning the child’s life. And should an outstanding event occur later on the name might be CHANGED to recall that event.

Bible example: Isaiah 8:1-3 Here the prophetess, so called because she was the wife of the prophet, bore a son who was called by commandment of God, Maher Shalah Chash Baz, which interprets as “the enemy hastens to the prey, to the spoil.” This was done to perpetuate the memory in Israel of the prophecy spoken in verse 1.

Hosea had a similar experience. Commanded to take a wife “of whoredoms” by the Lord, he did so. He then produced children whose names were used to prophesy the future of Israel and the promise to the Gentiles. (Hosea Chapter 1&2) Some of these names and their meanings are:

Jezreel- Whom God soweth
Ammi- My people
Lo Ammi- not my people
Ruhammah- having obtained mercy
Lo Ruhammah- not having obtained mercy

A study of this section of the Scriptures will readily show how names were used for identification and prophecy.

Manufacturers of goods and their advertisers are very careful in naming a product. That is because they want that name not only to make their product distinct from any other, but also to reveal as much as possible the unique characteristics and nature of that product. For example, the product called ARMOR ALL. This is a cleaning agent for upholstery, but its name also assures us that it will protect the upholstery...guarding it as does armor. The toothpaste, BRITE, by its name tells us that it will not only clean your teeth but will brighten them also. The cereal named TOTAL guarantees us, by its name, that it will provide all that we need in the way of breakfast. Whether or not these products live up to their names, still their names are for IDENTIFICATION. “A GOOD NAME IS RATHER TO BE CHOSEN THAN GREAT RICHES, AND LOVING FAVOR RATHER THAN SILVER OR GOLD. Prov. 22:1”

Since we have seen that names are significant in their use in the Bible for identification of character, etc; let us now examine some of these to show just what bearing they may have on their owners.

Bible names, PLACE: JEHOVAH JIREH...Genesis 22:8, 13-14

“And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering:”

“And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind [him] a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

“And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said [to] this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.”

JEHOVAH JIREH means THE LORD PROVIDES. Abraham, being a prophet, foresaw that God would PROVIDE a sacrifice...in the form of a lamb. And, being fully persuaded of God’s promise to him of the seed of Isaac, he accounted that God “was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” (Heb. 11:19) Thus we see that this place was named to perpetuate the memory of this event. It was a FIGURE of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who raised from the dead. God honored the words of His prophet when he said, My son, God will provide Himself a lamb.

MASSAH AND MERIBAH...Exodus 17:2-7

“Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?

“And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore [is] this [that] thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?

“And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.

“Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

“And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?”

MASSAH means challenge and MERIBAH means dispute. Therefore, “he called the name of the place CHALLENGE and DISPUTE...etc; Again, names are for IDENTIFICATION.

Throughout the Bible we find references to places which are named for events which occurred there. Let’s look at one now which encompasses both the Old and the New Testaments....BETHLEHEM.

The first part of this word is the name of another place, Bethel. To see how Bethel was named we turn now to Genesis 28: 10-12, 16-19, 22.

And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put [them for] his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew [it] not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful [is] this place! this [is] none other but the HOUSE of GOD, and this [is] the gate of heaven. And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put [for] his pillows, and set it up [for] a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. And he called the name of that place BETHEL:...And this stone, which I have set [for] a pillar, shall be God's house:...”

Jacob called this place BETHEL, meaning HOUSE OF GOD, because of his vision and the Word of the Lord he received here. Now turn to Genesis 48:7

“And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet [there was] but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same [is] Bethlehem.” Ephrath signifies “fruitful” and derives from Ephraim. The land was divided for an inheritance among the patriarchs, this portion going to Ephraim, the son of Joseph by Asenath the daughter of Potiphera in the land of Egypt. This area would yield abundant grain harvests, and in the years to come would also reveal vast reserves of OIL beneath its surface.

ADOPTION, Part I, pg. 8, para. 47-49:

“You notice, Joshua, after crossing over the land and taking the land, then he divided the land. "Ephraim here, Manasseh's here, and this one here, Gad here, Benjamin here." He divided the land.

And notice. Oh, this just burns our hearts. Each one of those Hebrew mothers giving birth to those children, she spoke the very place in her labor pains, where they would be positioned in the promised land. Oh, it's a great study. If we could only go into it in details, which would take hours after hours...Watch when they, each one of those mothers, when she called out, “Ephraim”, when she was in labor, POSITIONALLY PLACED HIM where his feet was setting in oil. Just exactly every one of them WHERE THEY WERE AT.!”

“And Joshua, not knowing this, but by inspiration, led of the Holy Spirit, after being into the promised land, give each man his promise, EXACTLY WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT PROMISED THROUGH THEIR BIRTH BACK THERE.”

Each man’s inheritance IDENTIFIED beforehand by the name he was given at birth. This first reference to Bethlehem speaks of it as the burial place of Rachel, and foreshadows prophecy spoken by Jeremiah later on...as we shall see presently. The name Bethlehem means HOUSE OF GOD’S BREAD, and has no reference to either Rachel, or to burial. But Gen. 48:7 does not say that Jacob so named the place, only that “the same is Bethlehem;” leaving the clear idea that while it was an unnamed area of Ephrath at that time, it subsequently became known as Bethlehem.

Ruth and Naomi came to Bethlehem “in the beginning of the barley harvest.” (Ruth 1:22) There Ruth gleaned grain in the field of Boaz, the kinsman redeemer. Here we see in a figure the Gentile Church receiving the Bread of Life from the Lord of the Harvest, the Kinsman Redeemer, Christ. It was a land of grain, a house of God’s bread. And, just as Jacob envisioned, in this place one day would come down the Lord from heaven.

“...and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, THE LORD STOOD ABOVE IT, AND SAID, I AM THE LORD GOD...”

Now notice, how NAMES TELL A STORY! Naomi, which means “pleasant” and derives from a word meaning agreeable, was so pleasant to have for a mother-in-law that Ruth left her home, gave up her own ways, and traveled to a strange land in order to retain a “friendship”. Ruth means “friendly.”

Now look at Ruth 1:2,4:

Elimelech = WORSHIP (lit. God of the king...a prophet)
Mahlon = WEAK, SICK
Chilon = DESTRUCTION (ie; consuptive, failing)
Orpah = TO GO BACK (oreph, araph...bend over at the neck or back)

Much is revealed in these names, ENOUGH, IN FACT, TO TELL THE STORY UP TO THIS POINT! Elimelech, a Hebrew prophet, left his homeland to go among the people of Moab...meaning “unclean”. (Gen. 19:36,37) God never did bless Israel out of the homeland. Elimelch died in this land of idolatry. His two sons, the one “sick”, the other “consumptive” also died leaving Naomi with her two daughters-in-law. Orpah, as HER NAME INDICATES, went back, but Ruth maintained a lasting “friendship” with the “pleasant and agreeable” Naomi. HOW VERY MUCH IS IN A NAME!

Bethlehem, from whence they came and to which they returned was a land of grain. David, the king, was also partial to the water there. (2 Sam. 23) Here in Bethlehem David was anointed king...and here, also, the KING OF KINGS was attended by wisemen who brought appropriate gifts.

Gold = Diety, (God)
Frankincense = Service
Myrrh = Death (lit. “bitter”)

A King Who was God, Jehovah, placed in service to die. (Vol. 6 #13 pg. 13)

Bethlehem was built by Rehoboam, and perhaps, named by him. It was a land of grain...a house of God’s bread. And here the BREAD OF GOD came down from heaven.

“I am that bread of life. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: (at BETHLEHEM) if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (John 6:48, 51)

Jesus, the Bread of God, was born in Bethlehem, the HOUSE OF GOD’S BREAD, even as it had been written.

Micah 5:2-4 “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, [though] thou be little among the thousands of Judah, [yet] out of thee shall he come forth unto me [that is] to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth [have been] from of old, from everlasting. Therefore will he give them up, until the time [that] she which travaileth hath brought forth:...And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God...”

Here in Bethlehem, also, Herod tried to slay the child of the woman (Rev. 12) thus fulfilling the Word of the Lord by Jeremiah, AS IT IS WRITTEN:

“Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,

In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping [for] her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

This ties it back again with Rachel’s burial...the death of her children in the place of her decease. Once more we see the tremendous significance of names.

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Bible names, PEOPLE:

ENOCH, “dedicated” Read (Gen. 5:24) That is dedication. Hebrews 11:5 tell us; “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” Again, THAT IS DEDICATION.

NOAH, “rest” (Gen. 7:1) “And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.” That Ark was Christ in a figure. Noah rested in the Ark while the world went through the deluge.

DAVID, “beloved” was a man after God’s heart.

MOSES, was drawn from the waters of the Nile. He, too, found safety in the Ark. (Exodus 2:10) Moses means “drawn forth”.

ELIJAH, “My God is Jehovah”. “Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou [art] God in Israel, and [that] I [am] thy servant, and [that] I have done all these things at thy word. ...Then the fire of the LORD fell...” (I Kings 18:36, 38)

Time after time the names of the characters appearing in the Bible CHARACTERIZE THEIR LIVES. Time after time they are IDENTIFIED by the meaning of their NAME.

BALAAM, the false prophet who would have destroyed Israel, and who led, indeed, to the destruction of many of them is IDENTIFIED by his NAME. Balaam signifies “destroyer”. Lot, the type for the worldly, carnal Christian, was RELIGIOUS. And religion is a covering, not an atonement for sin. Lot translates “covering”.

ESAU was IDENTIFIED by his physical characteristics. “And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother [is] a hairy man...” (Gen. 27:11) ESAU, of course, means HAIRY. CAIN, THE SON OF THE SERPENT, (1 John 3:12) bears a name which translates “possessed”. NAMES ARE FOR IDENTIFICATION!

The Prophets, the Patriarchs, the saints; men and women, places, and events; all are identified by NAME revealing their character.

ISAIAH, JHVH saves:

Isaiah comes from the same root, and means the same as Joshua and Jesus. Jehovah Saves is the theme of the Bible. Sixty-Six books revealing the salvation of God, Jesus Christ. The entire Book is the Revelation of Jesus Christ...JHVH saves.

Isaiah contains sixty-six chapters encompassing all the Bible prophecies from Creation to the Consumation...and beyond. No other book of the Prophets so clearly and so frequently announces that God is salvation.

ISAIAH 43:11 “I, [even] I, [am] the LORD; (JHVH) and beside me [there is] no saviour.

ISAIAH 45:21:23 “Tell ye, and bring [them] near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? [who] hath told it from that time? [have] not I the LORD? and [there is] no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; [there is] none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth [in] righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.”

(“...because He could swear by no greater, He sware by Himself” Heb. 6:13)

Phillipians 2:10,11 “That at the name of Jesus (JHVH saves) every knee should bow...And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, (JHVH) to the glory of God the Father.”

( “I and [my] Father are one.” John 10:30)

John 14:9,10 “...Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou [then], Shew us the Father?...the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works.” (“For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” Col. 2:9)

ISAIAH 45:6 “That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that [there is] none beside me. I [am] the LORD, (JHVH) and [there is] none else.”

(“One Lord, (JHVH)... One God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all.” Eph. 4:5,6)

ISAIAH 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

(“ Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12) ( Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.” Eph. 3:15)

Jesus (JHVH saves)...Joshua (JHVH saves)...Isaiah (JHVH saves). Three witnesses bearing the same NAME. The Father’s NAME. JEHOVAH SAVES.

Jesus said; “ I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not:” (John 5:43)

The NAME of God (JHVH savior) was given first to Moses in Exodus 6:2,3: “And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I [am] the LORD (JHVH): And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by [the NAME of] God Almighty (Elohim), but by My NAME JEHOVAH was I not known to them.”

The Psalmist says of Him: “That [men] may know that thou, whose name alone [is] JEHOVAH, [art] the most high over all the earth.” And finally, ISAIAH declared, “Behold, God [is] my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH [is] my strength and [my] song; he also is become my salvation.

Isaiah, “Jhvh saves” declares the salvation of God, as his NAME promises. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isa. 1:18) This is his first declaration. ALL THAT IN A NAME!

JEREMIAH, exalted of God, (lit. JHVH will rise)

Jeremiah 1:10, 17-19: “ See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms,...Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. For, behold, I have made thee this day a defensed city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land,...And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I [am] with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.”

SOLOMAN, peaceful....reigned over the greatest age of peace and prosperity Israel has ever known. While he ruled there was no division in Israel, all was peace.

ISAAC, laughter (Gen. 21:3,6-7)

“ And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac...And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, [so that] all that hear will laugh with me. And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born [him] a son in his old age.”

ISHMAEL, God hears (Gen. 21:10-20)

Verse 17: “And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he [is].”

Over and over, time after time we see the importance of NAMES.

In the New Testament there are recorded the names of men who turned away from the Apostle Paul. Lets look at three of these man.

HYMENAUS, “god of marriage.” This man was so “married” to tradition that he put away the true faith and was delivered unto Satan by Paul.

1 Timothy 1:18-20 and 2 Timothy 2:15-19. Iniquity is that which is known but not done. Hymenaus knew the truth but held to his own creed. Had he been “married to Christ, the Word” instead of “god of marriage” he would have held to the faith “once delivered to the Saints” (Jude 2) and built upon, the “foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ (the Word) Himself being the Chief Cornerstone.” For Paul had warned of this many times before.

1 Timothy 1:4 “ Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: [so do].”

2 Thess. 2:2-4 “That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.” (could there have been counterfeit letters claiming to be from Paul, yet not? Read 3:17). “ Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” (Read on through V.15)

In 1 Tim. 1:20 we have already read: “Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander...” ALEXANDER is another of whom it is written: “For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” And in 1 John 2:19; “ They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would [no doubt] have continued with us: but [they went out], that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”

Turn now to 2 Tim. 4:14-17, where we read: “ Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. At my first answer no man stood with me, but all [men] forsook me: [I pray God] that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and [that] all the Gentiles might hear...”

Since Alexander means “man defender” We have a direct clue to how all this came about. And we find the story in Acts 19:20-41. Here we find that Demetrius a silver smith, stirred up the city through the craftsman. Sort of a laborers protest. They worked the crowd into a fury over Paul’s doctrine and caught up some the known believers. Among them was Alexander.

Verse 33 records;

“And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defense unto the people.”

What defense could he have made that would not have compromised his testimony? No such “defense” was offered by Gaius or Aristarchus, who continued in the ministry of Paul (Acts 20:4; 27:2) and at least one of them accompanied Paul to prison later on. (Col. 4:10)

Alexander was a craftsman himself, a coppersmith. And he was present in the multitude that day, recognized by the Jews and put forth as a believer to the crowd. If his NAME identifies his nature, and Paul’s description of his actions relate to this incident, as it appears, then Alexander, under pressure, was a man defender, rather than a defender of the faith.

2 Timothy 4:10 says: “ For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed...”

Demas means “people gatherer” and signifies “crowd pleaser”. He turned from Paul to please the crowd of organized brethren...the denomination. Both he and Alexander were bound over to Satan that they learn not to blaspheme. This was sound Bible doctrine. And their NAMES revealed their character.

NOTE: The first time I preached on this here at the Church I took my lesson entirely from the Scriptures given. I did not, at that time, have the Message books to refer to; nor was I aware of the quotes to which I will reference all this in a moment. But to show that the Holy Spirit witnesses the Truth, let me remind you of the prophecy given in the text of that sermon.

“There are here with us two of three who will go out from us. They will lead others astray. The one by CRAFTYWORKS; the other going before as a DEER runs before the hounds. Thus Saith the Spirit of the Lord.”

Shortly thereafter Art Zamora took several brothers out and started his own services preaching contrary to the Message of the Church. This is recorded in the Acts of the Church, the history of this revival. Art means “crafty works.”

Sometime later Mike Hinds also led others off to start his own work. A HIND is a deer. Thus Saith the Lord was confirmed!

Now I wish to quote from the Message of the Prophet. You are urged to read this Message (or hear the tape) in its entirely.

PRESENT STAGE OF MY MINISTRY Sept. 8, 1962 Volume 11 No. 2 Spoken Word

Pg. 10 para. 48: “Now, let's just wonder, why would a man, a minister, associate like Demas was to Paul, ever leave Paul?”

Pg. 11 para. 56 “ Let's take some of Demas' thoughts. As I was sitting down on the hillside, wondering the other day, about daylight, and I was thinking, "Why would Demas want to leave that fellow? Why would he leave that poor little preacher that led him to the Lord, the man who spearheaded the revival amongst the Gentiles, a prophet indeed?" No one could say but what he was a prophet. He was more than a prophet; he was an apostle, and a great and mighty apostle to the Gentiles. And Demas would associated with Paul, had fellowship, and seen the Spirit of God move upon that man. And why would he turn his back on such a person as that, had been vindicated that he was a servant of Christ? Did you notice Paul here, "... loving this present world." I don't think Demas backslid. I don't think he did that. But I think he--he got the wrong opinion of Paul.”

Pg. 12 para. 59 “ And now, I believe Demas saw a failing, seemingly, in Paul's ministry. I think that he thought the old fellow was washed up before God.

Pg. 13 para. 65 “And Demas, to a man that was of high standing, high caliber, cultured, educated, and a rich man that had many changes of clothes, "That guy, was something wrong with him. That had so many friends that would pluck their eyes out to give it to him, and yet he's so poor he had one coat. Something was wrong with Paul."

Para. 66 “Oh, you know, that spirit don't leave the world; they still have it that way.”

Pg. 14 para. 69 “Now, why didn't Paul smite the coppersmith blind? The same kind of a spirit that's on people that think that, is the same thing was on Demas. A man that could smite a man blind for disputing with him, and then turn and let a coppersmith spoil his ministry in the city, no doubt Demas said, "He--he--he's washed up; he's lost all of his gifts. He's--he's lost his gifts of smiting blind."

Para. 70 “Don't you see how that spirit still lives, say, "You're washed up, brother..." Oh, it--it just goes over the people's head. They just don't get it; that's all there is to it. See? They just can't see it. See? They don't understand.”

Para. 73 “And here was a coppersmith done ten times to him what that man done, and yet got away with it. Demas must have thought, "Well, see, the old fellow's washed up now. He's--he's lost his ministry." No, no, he hadn't lost his ministry, not at all. God don't do things like that. God's not an Indian giver.”

Para. 74 “Paul was something on the order like Elijah. Elijah the prophet went up on the mountain by the commission of God and called for fire to fall out of heaven, and it fell. And he called for water, and it come. And then he commanded by the message of God and killed four hundred priests, chopped their heads off, let them roll down the hill; and then run at the threat of a--a woman, one little hypocrite woman, or, she was an infidel. Jezebel, that one little woman which was the keynote to every bit of it, she was the one caused it. Looked like he'd have got her first. But God has ways of doing things, and his servants only can work according if he works according to the will of God.”

Pg. 15 para. 75 “Don't you see, friends, you've got to move according to God's way of moving.”

Para. 78 “"Paul's lost his ministry." That's what Demas must have thought.”

Para. 79 “And, brother, they got a lot of them Demas spirits in the world today. They don't know what it's all about. See? No need trying to explain it to them, 'cause they won't get it anyhow.”

Para. 86 I say this. When a man stands true to the Word, not just in one meeting, but in every meeting, when a man stands true to the Word, the time will come when they'll leave him. Exactly. They did it. They did it to our Lord. They'll leave him when he stands for Truth. "All men has forsaken me." And now what do you think that Demas and some of them men thought, when we all know, that know the Scripture, that Luke was a doctor, and Paul, wherever he went took this doctor with him? And preaching Divine healing, and leaving his friend sick... So poor, that he had one coat... And let a man run him out of town, when he could smite a man blind. See, they thought he was washed up. But he wasn't. He was exactly in the bloody footprints. He was following on. I hope you're understanding. He said, "All men has forsaken me."

Pg. 17 para. 90 “Demas said, "I ain't associating with a guy like that. He's just a--he's a low class of person. I'll go up with the denominational brethren. I'll go up where I'll be somebody." If it was such a thing, I'd like to walk, and right after Baxter gets through (See?), for leaving that poor little guy in that shape. He ought to been standing by him. Paul was the one led him to Christ. But, you see, it's without knowing the Spirit, knowing what the will of God is, then doing the will of God. See? Now... But there he left him in that condition. Left him... All men had forsaken him.”

Para. 91 “How I think of that, how a servant that'll stand true to the Word, sooner or later, just remember, the people are going to forsake him. Now, we want to strike that just for a few minutes, and I won't keep you too long now, 'cause I want you here in the morning. Always when God's servant stands true to the Word, all forsake him. And it... Now, just take anywhere you want to, anytime in the Bible or in history, that when a man stayed true, no matter how popular he was, when he stayed true to the Word, the time come when the religious world forsaken him and cut him off. Now, just read it as you take the Bible from Genesis over to the Book of Revelation, and pick up in the Pre-Nicene Council and take down to the Nicene Fathers, and every man, every saint, every prophet, every true servant of God that stayed with the Word, was forsaken by the ecclesiastical thing and cast down. And Paul was one of them.”

Para. 92 “And if there'd be one today, it'd be the same thing.” OH, BROTHER! THAT’S WHAT’S IN A NAME! WHAT’S IN A NAME? CHARACTER!

WHAT’S IN A NAME CHANGE?

If a name has such a bearing on a person’s life, what would happen if that name were changed? Would that also affect the persons life? Is there any advantage to a change later on?

THE VOICE OF GOD IN THIS LAST DAYS, January 20, 1963

“Did you ever notice, our young boys has become Ricky and Elvis. You got a child named that, change it right quick, call him number one or two, or something. Don't... That's a horrible... You say, "What difference does the name mean?" Why, sure, IT MEANS SOMETHING. YOUR NAME CHARACTERIZES YOUR LIFE. "Now, Brother Branham, you're on numerology." No, I'm not. I'm on THUS SAITH THE LORD. Why was it when Jacob, he lived to his name as--as deceiver, supplanter, Jacob. And when God changed him, He changed his name. God changed Saul to Paul, Simon to Peter. Certainly, it has something. And Ricky and Elvis, and such names as that, is the modern American name which throws a child AUTOMATICALLY RIGHT INTO THAT.”

GOD’S GIFTS ALWAYS FIND THEIR PLACES, December 22, 1963

“Now, and many times, names are in the Bible. We don't notice it no more, today. We... You've often heard me scorn this name of children calling--or people calling their children "Ricky." Now, Ricky is a horrible name. See? And it's a... You mustn't call them that. If you got a child named Ricky, for goodness sakes, change it to something else. Ricky, or--or Elvis, or something like that... "Ricky" means "a rat." See? And so you--you go... And--and what you call a person, that impresses that. A little lady, the other day, had a little boy out there called "Ricky" and his name's Ricky, James Ricky. And because it was so popular (Ricky), they called him "Ricky." I said, "Change that name."

...“You just watch him; his nature's just like that. And he... I said to some of his grandparents, or someone, I said, "Tell the mother change the name of that boy, just change that name over and watch what happens to the kid." See, you people don't want to believe that. We think we've lived too long for that.”

Now let’s look at NAME CHANGES. Since a NAME characterizes your life, identifies your character, then a change in nature, character, would also dictate a change in your name. And, a NAME CHANGE can affect your character.

ABRAM - ABRAHAM ... SARAI - SARAH

Abram means “patriarch” (lit. high father or tribal head)

ABRAHAM means “father of multitudes or father of nations”

Sarai means “dominative”

SARAH means “princess”

Abram led a tribal unit out of Haran. His father Terah had died there after their journey from Ur of the Chaldee. Abram was instructed to separate himself from his kindred, but he took them with him.

“So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him:...And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran...” (Gen. 12:4,5) He heard the voice of God and obeyed...but failed to keep EVERY WORD. This may well have been due to the domination of Sarai. Abram, having been raised in a pagan culture that practiced WOMAN WORSHIP may have yielded to his wife’s demands that they not leave all that was familiar. She would have wanted to take her household and personal effects as is the way of a woman. God caused Abram grief because of Lot. A famine forced them into Egypt, another idolatrous culture, where Pharaoh took Sarai into his house with the aim toward making her his wife. Only after God had plagued Pharaoh because of her did Abram set out again. Indeed, Pharaoh forced him out because of her. (Gen. 12:10-20)

Abram had arrived at the land of promise before the famine, but though God appeared unto him and gave him the promise of inheritance to that land, he could not receive the blessing so long as Lot was with him.

“And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, [then] shall thy seed also be numbered. (Gen. 13:16)

The influence of Sarai continued to dominate Abram as shown in Chapter 16.

“Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name [was] Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her.” (Gen. 16:1,2)

Which was not according to the PROMISE. Nevertheless, “Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.” This union resulted in sorrow for all concerned and brought forth the “children of the flesh” through Ishmael.

Finally Abram came under full subjection to the Word alone. And God changed his NAME.

“ And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant [is] with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.” (Gen. 17:3-5)

And Sarai became a princess, a mother of nations, from whom sprang kings of people. (Gen. 17:15,16) Still her faith was not toward the promise. (18:11-15) However, the NAME CHANGE affected her causing her to believe. The visit of the Angel of the Lord, the sign given her of discriment, and the affect of her new name made a new woman out of Sarai-Sarah. Finally she received FAITH for herself.

“Through faith (a revelation) also Sara (not Sarai) HERSELF RECEIVED STRENGHT to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because SHE JUDGED HIM FAITHFUL WHO HAD PROMISED.” (Heb. 11:11)

GOD’S GIFTS, Vol. 6 Number 13 SPOKEN WORD

“Why was Abram called, had to be called "Abraham" before the baby could be born? Why was Sarai called "Sarah" before the baby could be born?...and all their names were changed, is because what you are called is something about it.”...and what you call a person, that impresses that.” (Pg. 11,12)

Changing Sarai’s name changed her faith. And her change in faith brought a change in her life. Changing Abraham’s name increased his faith until he became fully persuaded.

“And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.” Abraham believed God. (Romans 4:19-21)

Sarah surrendered her will to Abraham; “being in subjection unto (her own husband); ...Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord:...” (1 Peter 3:6)

JACOB - ISRAEL:

GOD’S GIFTS, Page 11 para. 47

“If there isn't something in a name, then why as long as Jacob was called Jacob, which means "supplanter, deceiver," that's what he was? But when he wrestled with the Lord all night, and the Lord changed his name, at about... When he was about sixty years old He changed his name from--from--from Jacob to Israel, "a prince before God," and that's what he was.”

Jacob was, indeed, a supplanter. (Gen. 25:27-34) First he contrived to gain the birthright belonging to his elder brother, Esau...also known as Edom, meaning “red”. (This was because of the red pottage he desired from Jacob. v.30) Esau, faint to the point of death, was swindled out of his inheritance by his scheming younger brother. JACOB.

Then, to gain the blessing and secure this inheritance he deceived his father, with the help of his mother, Rebekah. Rebekah translates “noose” and signifies “a snare.” She plotted on behalf of her son Jacob, who was her favorite. While Esau was on an errand for his father, Rebekah dressed Jacob up in his brothers clothes, including the skins of goats to cover his smooth hands and face, etc; to appear before Isaac who was blind. He was very bold in his deception. When Isaac grew suspicious at the sound of his voice he felt Jacob’s skin, covered by the goat hides, for Esau was “hairy.” And when Isaac asked him how it was that he was able to complete his mission so quickly, and locate, slay, and prepare the game so soon, Jacob replied, “the Lord, God, brought it to me.”

The plot worked and Jacob stole his father’s blessing; and with it, his brother’s place.

He then left home, and while working for his future father-in-law got a taste of his own medicine. Laban meaning “whiteness” signifies “to be made white” and also “to build with white bricks, as an altar”. The figure here is one of a hypocrite. Laban appeared to be what he was not. He seemed to be of honest character. He was a man of worship (hence, the altar). But he was selfish, and grasping; dominative and deceitful. His name identified his true character.

“ Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead [men's] bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” Matt. 23:27-28

A VERY GOOD DESCRIPTION OF LABAN. He contracted with Jacob for his daughter Rachel, (“ewe”, signifying humility and meekness) who was the victim of default on the part of Laban when he sent Leah into the marital bed instead. Jacob, who loved the beautiful Rachel, was replaced by the dull and less attractive Leah, who was the eldest.

Leah was natured just the opposite of Rachel. Her name means “to tire”, as “to make weary”. She was not at all the “meek and quiet spirit” that is of great price in the sight of God, and was also, no doubt, in the sight of Jacob. (1 Peter 3:1-6) This can be readily seen in Gen. 30:14-16:

“...Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes. And she said unto her, [Is it] a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also?...And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I HAVE HIRED THEE with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.”

But Jacob, being supplanter, once again got the upper hand. In Gen. 30:24-43 we read how he got even by deceit again. Using his gifts from God, he depleted Laban’s stock by breeding them under circumstances that increased his own, thus robbing Laban. Then he slipped away in secret.

Jacob is the greatest example of GRACE in the Old Testament. He stole the birthright, yet God condemned Esau. (Heb. 12:16) He lied to his father and tricked him, taking advantage of his handicap; but still he was blessed with the inheritance and the rule. When he gained his father-in-laws wealth using a spiritual gift, it was for the wealth of a future nation. Only ELECTION can explain all this. For God said. “Jacob have I loved, Esau have I hated.”

“And Esau said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing.” (Gen. 27:36)

JACOB was his NAME, he was only following the NATURE OF HIS NAME.

“The memory of the just [is] blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.” (Pro. 10:7)