What’s in a name? Is there any particular significance to the meaning of your name? For most of my life, my name has been mispronounced, misspelled, and often not even attempted. It is almost a guarantee that in a new environment someone would pronounce my name incorrectly. If the restaurant where we planned to eat had a wait time, I invariably gave my husband’s name instead of my own. Several years ago, someone asked me, “What is the meaning of your name?” This question made me pause, because in over thirty years I never considered it. You see, my mother made up my name. It was unique in the year I was born. It is a derivative of my father’s name, Dennis. My name is Denesia.
A name signifies relationship and identity. It sets you apart and yet draws you together. My first name is personal, but my last name identifies me with my husband. I am no longer alone but part of a unit. In the book of Isaiah, God makes a declaration to the children of Israel— a powerful reminder: “Now this is what the Lord says— the one who created you, Jacob, and the one who formed you, Israel—‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine’” (Isa. 43:1, CSB).
Just consider the impact of that statement for a minute. Ponder the significance of this promise first to the original listeners, the children of Israel, and now to all the nations and peoples in the World. God set them apart for Himself. He ransomed them, He knew their names, they were His. As a result, the command was “Do not fear.” As I look at the last ten months, my temptation has been to fear. Afraid I’m not doing enough in ministry; afraid I was not taking enough safety precautions to keep my 6-year-old son safe from COVID-19 because he happens to be in the high-risk category. I was scared I did not have enough information to make the best possible decision.
Can you relate? Are there situations or circumstances that have resulted in fear for you? This verse of Scripture from Isaiah has brought me so much comfort, peace and hope. A reminder that God knows me and that I belong to him. Have you ever realized how much more people tend to take care of things when it belongs to them? Imagine how much more God, our Creator, our Father will protect and take care of us?
It was last year that I had my teenage daughter begin to do her own laundry. She started to have a personal style, and it was no longer acceptable for me to go clothes shopping for her. Once she began choosing her clothing items, she also became picky about her laundry. Clothes shopping had become so tricky that my husband devised a plan to give her a budget and have her choose items. However, she needed our final approval on her selections. It was a miracle! Suddenly, because she had bought them, clothing became so much more valuable to her.
It may seem not very serious to you, but we take such good care of what belongs to us. I say the magnitude of the message of Isaiah 43:1 is exponential! “Now this is what the Lord says—the one who created you, Jacob, and the one who formed you, Israel—Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine.’”
My name is often mispronounced, misspelled, and sometimes not even attempted, but the God of the universe knows my name. He knows yours too. The promise of Isaiah 43 is personal, but it is also corporate. You are a child of the living God–YAHWEH; you do not need to fear because you were created, formed and redeemed by Him. You are precious and honored because of God’s love for you.
