Name-Changer

Gen. 17:5 ~ Abram to Abraham

Gen. 17:15 ~ Sarai to Sarah

Gen. 32:28 ~ Jacob to Israel

Est. 2:7 ~ Hadassah to Esther

Dan. 1:6-7 ~

    > Daniel to Belteshazzar

    > Hananiah to Shadrach

    > Mishael to Meshach

    > Azariah to Abed-nego

    There’s also Simon Peter and Saul turned Paul. But does God still do this today? I know He'll do it in the future, because in Revelation 2:17 He says, "… To him who overcomes, … I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it." (emphasis mine)

    To me, this is pretty cool (tho' it'll take a lot of self-control NOT to share my new name with others X}). But does God do this now? And why would He?

    In the book Without Rival, author Lisa Bevere touches on the significance of names and their meanings. I won't be able to quote the whole thing 'cause it's lengthy, but here are some key snippets. :}

    "According to Hebrew tradition, names contain the potential and destiny of the individual. Therefore, a name change has the power to change your nature, which in turn makes room for your destiny. … God often changed the given name of someone when that name no longer expressed their nature. … Our God is in the name-change business. … When God entered into a covenant with Abram he increased Abram's capacity by changing his name. … This new name declared who Abraham would be. … Never forget, identity is intimately attached to your destiny." [pg. 63-64]

    So, God isn't just changing people's names so that they sound better, but He's changing them so that they mean better. J

    For example, my name is Alexis, but I go by Lexi. Either way, my name 'Alexis' means "helper, defender". Originally, I thought my name meant, "defender of mankind," but that's the name 'Alexander'. The Greek root-word for "man" ["aner"] isn't in my name, unless it was shortened from Alexander.

    Anyway, I always thought it was cool that my name meant, "defender of mankind." It made me feel like a warrior and I wanted to live up to that name.

    Well, in middle school, friends were choosing nicknames they wanted to go by, so I tried to think of a cool one. Unfortunately, I couldn't think of one, so I took one from a movie: The Lion King II. The villainess of that movie was named Zira [pronounced Zeer-ah]. I liked the sound of it, so I took it as a nickname, only changing the pronunciation to Zī-răh.

    After a couple of years of calling myself that (no one else ever used it), I was intrigued by the fact that "Simba" literally meant "lion". So, out of curiosity, I looked up several Lion King character names. Finally, I looked up "Zira". It means "hate".

    I was shocked. It lined up perfectly with the evil lioness’ character, but for me – I was horrified. I immediately dropped all uses of "Zira".

    In search of a new "nickname", I searched purposefully through baby name websites, until I landed on one that seemed to fit: "Leviah" ~ it means "lioness of God" in Hebrew. :} It had a good meaning, taking the “h” off it was fairly similar to my name and reminded me of God’s purpose in my life.

    Jesus is the Lion of Judah and I want to be a powerful “lioness” hunting by His side. Not to rant and destroy those who disagree with me, but to encourage and draw others to my Lord and Savior so that they too can experience a once-in-a-lifetime-relationship with Him. ^_^

    But does God still change names today? I think it depends, in all honesty. He can change your name or simply highlight a new angle on your name’s existing meaning, but the most important thing to keep in mind is this: When you become a Christian and enter a relationship with Jesus, your name does change.

    “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Cor. 5:17 ~ emphasis mine)

    “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.” (John 15:16 ~ emphasis mine)

    What I’m trying to say is, when we enter into a relationship with Christ (by believing that His death payed the just penalty for our sins ~ He paid our fine), He can give us His righteousness (His perfection) so that when we stand before God, He doesn’t see our sins – He sees Jesus’ sacrificial blood covering us and His robe of righteous salvation wrapped around our shoulders.

    So, whether God physically changes your name or not, when we enter into a relationship with Christ, He gives us His name: “the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:9-11)

    So, He can change your name if He sees fit, but as a Christian you are already covered in the Righteous Name of Jesus Christ.

    God didn’t change my name to “Levia”. He showed it to me, giving me a greater sense of purpose, and I chose it so that I could remind myself to serve Him better as one who is willing to help and defend. :} How about you?

What does your name mean?