Stick and Stones, Week 2 Day 2 Genesis 16 and 17

Stick and Stones, Week 2 Day 2 Genesis 16 and 17

Stick and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.  I imagine that we’ve all heard that phrase.  We may have even passed it on to our kids.  It operates on a number of different levels.  Something we say to someone to try and make them feel better.  Something we say to ourselves to ward off the harsh words of others.  A positive thought that if repeated enough cancels out the negatives that others have thrown our way

We  might use it to encourage others going through a difficult time.  Someone is being teased or bullied.  If you repeat it, if you believe it, then the harsh words of others can just wash over you.  They don’t hurt.  The words come and come and we remain un-phased, un-moved, un-harmed

But I know that isn’t completely true.  I can still remember teasing and bullying from when I was younger.  And if I can remember it, well then those words got under my skin, into my brain and even into my heart. 

I’m sure that we’ve all heard news stories of victims of bullying who have taken their own lives.  Yeah, the truth is that words can hurt, and can hurt us deeply.  Words can hurt especially if you are uncertain of yourself, unsure and vulnerable, especially if you feel alone.

But if names have the power to hurt, then they also have the power to heal, especially when the name is given to us by God.

In Genesis 17 Abram, which means “high father” gets a new name from God, Abraham which means “Father of a multitude”.  Abram changes to Abraham and with that name he moves one step closer to the fulfillment of the promise that God made to him, that he would be the Father of nations.  Sarai gets a new name too.  She goes from Sarai which means “princess” to Sarah which means “Mother of Nations.”  The promise hasn’t been fulfilled but they have moved one step closer.

There is a song that I really love,

I will change your name

You shall no longer be called

Wounded, outcast

Lonely or afraid

I will change your name

Your new name shall be

Confidence, joyfulness

Overcoming one

Faithfulness, friend of God

One who seeks my face.

I love this song because it speaks to how God views us and what God calls us.  I’m not Leonard the unsure.  I’m Leonard the Confident.  I’m not Leonard the sad.  I’m Leonard the Joyful.  I’m not Leonard the faithless.  I’m Leonard the Faithful.  And I can seek God’s face.

And from God’s Word there are other great names that He has given us.  Friend.  Sister or Brother.  Daughters and Sons of God.  Grand and glorious names given to us by the Lord God. 

Sticks and stone may break my bones, but God’s Words, they restore me.

God, there are many in this world that seek to drag us down.  But You Lord, You lift us up.  And You give us new names.  You don’t see us as the world sees us.  You see us as You created us to be.  And You give us names that speak the truth of who we are in You.  Thank You God for creating us, for naming us, for calling us, and for making us Your people.  Amen

Leonard