The “Called by name” story

I have called you by your name. You are mine. Isaiah 43:1 (WEB)

This must be one of my favourite verses in the Bible. To be honest, I’m not sure I would’ve felt that way back when I was a teenage girl with the world as my oyster. But these days, I love how God claims ownership over me so decisively. It’s settled – you are Mine! It’s almost like He’s jealously protective over me. Like a father would feel when his daughter’s prom date turned up with a mean motorcycle, an exhibit of tattoos and a punk for extra credit. Strange analogy for this verse? Perhaps. But if I could turn your attention to the picture at the top for a second, I’ll explain.

I chose the name “Daniel” as example of how this item can be personalised specifically to show how the deeper significance of a name can be uncovered, and admittedly, it works really well with the story : )

The name means “God is my judge” and for the Daniel we met in the Bible, I think you’ll agree that it fit like a glove. That Daniel submitted himself to God’s ways, over and above the laws made by his captors.

Let’s look beyond that story for a moment, though, at what else the meaning of the name suggests…

God is my judge. It’s almost like you could read negatively into it. Judged by God. Ouch. Because let’s face it. Isn’t that how we sometimes feel? Like there’s this being who made the rules and he’s standing up there scanning the earth with a ruler in his hand, ready to swat whoever dares step outside the lines.

But what if “God is my judge” actually had the potential to be an acquittal instead of a sentence?

Shall we start by looking at the other options for the position of judge? For B, there’s Satan. And I think we can safely say that doesn’t de-throne option A. The enemy of our souls has one purpose, and one alone: The destruction of mankind. By any, and every means possible. Having Satan as your judge is your worst nightmare. So no, thank you. Or… could this be what our lives truly say? Hold that thought for a while.

Next, there’s option C: I can be my own judge. Now before you make your tick, consider carefully the fact that there’s more to C than meets the eye. Because if I am my own judge, then so too are everyone else. Also the guy who thinks it’s OK to rape my little girl or murder my son. He can then also judge for himself what wrong and right is.

In this world there has to be some kind of objective governance and I’m not talking about your local authority here, but about Grand Central Governance. The one in charge of the bigger scheme of things.

For me there’s really no choice in terms of who I’d like my judge to be. But choosing God isn’t settling for the lesser between a set of “negatives”… “Satan and man won’t do, so I guess it’ll have to be God.” Let’s delve a little deeper to see if you’ll agree.

The story of how the world works, is actually some strange combination of A, B and C. Note that I’m not making it out as your standard D – All of the above. It can only ever be one, but the interaction between them seems never-ending. For here and now anyway.

At the start, the world belonged to God, the Creator, and He actually went with option C for the pinnacle of His creation: He gave man the authority. Not because of stupidity, but out of love. And necessity. He chose to give us free will so our relationship could be authentic. So we started off with the privilege of ruling and reigning the earth, but soon handed that authority over to Satan at the tree of knowledge. His evil plans were so well thought out, I have to give it him. Adam and Eve knew instantly that they couldn’t run back to God. Since they were now under the authority of sin God had become one of their panel of judges instead of their friend. But God didn’t leave us at the mercy of the wicked world judge. Enter stage left: Jesus. With our Saviour as attorney, we can face God as our judge, and be acquitted! Jesus is the ultimate attorney, OK. He simply flashes His scarred wrists as exhibit A and the plaintiff’s case comes crashing to the floor. So even though it looked like it was case closed, you now have the option of calling Jesus up and asking Him to be your lawyer. So now, bear with me, you can have the authority BACK. Yes, BACK. So if you thought it’s unfair that Adam and Eve made that horrible choice on your behalf… Here is your own personal choice, on a silver platter. Careful how you spend it, though, because history taught us that this gift is as fluid as they come. You can keep the authority and do as you please, which will exclude you from the protection of God. Or you can choose to play by worldly rules and come under the jurisdiction of Satan again. And last, never least: There’s God.

After we have gone the entire full circle with this exercise, perhaps we would be ready to see that it is a good thing, a happy thing to be submitted to God. That by choosing Him as our judge we’re not settling, we are winning! You know, God could have made us drones that weren’t able think for themselves whether they wanted to obey Him or not. Slaves who just did what they were told without the wit or the heart to question. But He wanted companions, He wanted friends, children, He wanted a family who remained His out of choice and out of love. Because they knew, first-hand, what a good Father He was and that in the sphere of His love, they would find everything they could ever dream of.

Let’s turn our focus back to the dad described in the opening paragraph, the one who will in all likelihood try to stop his daughter from going to the prom with the exciting bad-boy. Chances are that following his instinct would mean he would be losing her faster than you can say “bedroom window”. Because with her innocent, immature teenage heart, she can’t yet discern proper boyfriend material.

Suppose he let her go freely, not just to the prom, but he let her run off with him for good. He left the choice up to her. But he made sure she knew that she could return any time she wanted. He left the front porch light on every night, the door unlocked, kettle boiled for hot cocoa. And he waited eagerly. Knowing that what He would be getting back was not the innocent little girl he loved more than life itself, but a bruised and broken, second-hand version of her. Even so, he was the Mayor – a good one too – and he had all the money, sway, power and enough love to wipe all of that away. To restore her to her former beauty and stature. He would do all these things knowing that he would lose her either way, but the best – the only – chance he had at getting her back, was to let her burn her fingers without trying to stop her.

Now I can’t think of a single dad – who is positively sane and loving – who would apply this wisdom. Except for One. There is one Father who is able to see the end from the beginning. One Father whose heart is strong enough to bear the loss for what He stands to gain. One Judge who doesn’t just write off the guilt, He pays for it with His own flesh and blood. An Almighty One who is ready to trade: My yoke is soft and My burden light. Give Me your burdens and I’ll give you Mine. I will write on your heart the law of My love so that you’ll WANT to be Mine instead of feeling obliged to obey.

Step back with me to Daniel, the Bible character for a minute here. See, the Daniel of old had the wisdom to know that his security lay in Who he appointed as his judge and because of this, his life was saved, even though it appeared to be the worst choice he could make. I remember holding my breath when I was new to the Daniel story, realising it was wrong, but still secretly wishing He would just give in so He would be spared. I could almost imagine cheering him on if I had been there: “Just say you submit and you’ll be OK!”

Do you hear that echo? Just say you earned a different figure on your tax submission and your finances will be OK. Just say you don’t find fault when your friend cheats on their spouse, and your social status will be OK. Just say you’re something you aren’t so they’ll think you’re OK. Just say you’re fine with that lie, with cheating and scamming and soon it’ll feel OK. No matter what you know is right in your heart, just say what the world wants you to say.

And so we find ourselves allowing Satan to tie those puppet strings to our backs again.

I’m not standing here today, trying to tell you it’s straightforward or easy to choose the right judge. I must have failed at my own attempts a thousand and one times during the period it took me to write this story. We have to face the fact that our entire lives will be a tug of war between the three options for judge.

But the message that I do bring is that there is a law that rhymes with the rhythm of our hearts. It’s a law that most of us can only decipher once we’ve sped off on the back of that figurative bike a few times. It’s called the law of Grace, the law of Love and it’s written in the blood of Jesus. And when we submit to the law of His love He will slowly but surely change our hearts and teach us the way towards obedience.

Sometimes it’s just a matter of believing that porch light will keep burning, that front door will remain open even after I’ve messed it up a second time, and a third. That no matter how many times you jump into the enemy’s arms, no matter how badly he messes you up, for as long as you live (notice the key words here) you have the option of running home again and re-appointing a new judge.

You can always, ALWAYS – for as long as you have breath in your lungs (there’s the key words again) – call Jesus up to come and flash His scars at the jury.

So that’s my take on the meaning of the name “Daniel” for you, in the nutshell of a 2-page document. And while all of us CAN be like Daniel, there is also a specific story that YOUR name has to tell.

Do you know the meaning of your name? And your children’s names? Please don’t grab your answer from Google only. Because even though you’ll probably find the correct words, I’m talking about what God intended with that name. Beneath the surface. Beyond face value. What His dream is for you PERSONALLY.

Isaiah 43:1 teaches us that God CALLED us by our names. In other words, you have more than just a word that distinguishes you from all the other husbands in the store. You and I, and Sarah and Simon, and all the inscriptions in all the baby-name books in the world, also have a CALLING in God.

Just as an interesting side-note, remember that God also has the habit of giving people new names as their character grows and develops. It’s the CALLING, the dream we are after here, not what the world’s definition of those syllables are. We’re uncovering God’s definition of you. So if you were worried about the significance of “One Too Many” (Yup, there is an actual account of such a name), relax and just make the leap of asking Him.

You’re welcome to borrow the words below…

Father, thank you that the name we can all carry, first and foremost, is YOURS. Thank you that by accepting Jesus as my Attorney and You as my Judge, my name is cleared of all Satan’s accusations. Just like Daniel of the Bible, I choose to be “found blameless before You”. I choose today to be called Your child again, to be part of your family and Your covering. Father, I also choose to believe that each one of Your children has a unique calling. So today, I’m asking You for mine. Reveal to me what You dreamed of when You made me. And show me how that dream is supposed to unfold in my life. When I walk out of that courthouse, freed from my jail sentence, which direction do I take? Where do I sign up my name? Show me the bigger picture and the details I need to keep me on the road that leads away from bars and chains. I’m giving You permission to uproot the plans and goals I have laid out for my life, to plant Your dreams in my heart instead and to give me the strength to let them grow. I ask You to open up the right doors for me, starting with the door of understanding. In Jesus’ name. Amen

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You’re welcome to chat to me on info@bread-crumbs.co.za about anything you’ve read here or something that’s nagging you about the topic.