Column "From the Minister's Study" in The North Huron Citizen (Sept. 11 2026 edition)
There has been a lot of controversy lately over the renaming of a certain Great Lake. The current American President has seen fit to order federal agencies there to no longer refer to said body as “Lake Ontario” – a gesture which some Canadians are prompted to treat with scorn. It seems presumptuous that someone supposes they can simply take a Sharpie and give a different title to a large body of water that straddles an international border – depriving it of a name based on an aboriginal title that predates Confederation or even the Declaration of Independence. We are tempted to respond, “What gives him the right to do that?!”
When we name something, the act of labelling it presupposes authority to do so. When we adopt a cat or dog, we name it. Parents name the children to which they have given birth; we would be offended if the attending nurse, midwife, or physician decided they would name the newborn themselves! Parents may spend long hours poring over books of names trying to decide which moniker would best suit their coming arrival.
Naming involves a degree of authority. In the Creation story, when God created the animals, He “brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name.” (Gen.2:19) This naming symbolize’s Adam’s responsibility over, stewardship of and care for, the animals.
Names can have extra significance reflecting an occasion, event, or circumstance. The place-name Babel reflects the “confusion” and scattering which resulted when humans supposed their technology could empower them to build a tower to the heavens – an attractive delusion to which we seem still prone. “Isaac” reflected his aged parents’ laughter at the thought they could conceive when they were already so old – but God was showing He was God of the ‘impossible’.
Names can be symbolic and strangely appropriate given life’s later happenings. Moses, for example, was drawn out of the water of the Nile by Pharaoh’s daughter; yet he also became the leader who brought the Hebrew slaves out of Egypt, through the Red Sea. Abram’s initial name (meaning ‘exalted father’) was rather a sour joke as the years wore on and he remained childless; but after God’s intervention and change of his name, he more accurately became Abraham, “father of many nations”. Jesus renamed Simon as Peter – perhaps foreseeing his vital role in preaching inaugural sermons for the early church, although Peter’s betrayal of Jesus under pressure showed in his natural state he was anything but ‘rock-like’. Jesus perceived the brothers James and John as having fiery temperaments so “Sons of Thunder” was an apt title.
Some people are said to ‘live up to’ their names; Nabal lived down to his (‘fool’) – risking David’s deadly wrath when he refused to pay the men of David’s roving security service their due.
The name of Jesus is especially significant (“Yahweh saves”). It is a status-name; in connection with Old Testament prophecies, it declares Him to be God, born of a virgin and the promised king of David’s line. It is also a prediction-name, looking forward to what Jesus Himself will do: by His cross and resurrection, Jesus is Himself the fulfilment of what His name declares.
Naming something, as we said earlier, implies a degree of authority, of control over what’s named. In the pagan world, to know a god’s name supposedly conferred some power over that god. In the Bible, God supplies a name by which people may call upon Him, yet it is given in a way that retains a sense of His sovereignty: it is not some magical handle by which we may manipulate a genie at our beck and call. God reveals His name to Moses at the burning bush, back of beyond in the remote wilderness, as Yahweh – from the verb “to be”, perhaps “he is (alive, present, active)” or “he brings into being”. There is a sense of mystery and self-determination in the phrase “I am who I am”. In the immediate context of Exodus, God is revealing Himself to be the God who saves His people and makes good on His previous covenant promises. It is a more personal name than the title “Lord” (resonating with power, control, ‘boss’) or the rather generic “God”. He invites us into intimate relationship with Himself; so the Bible can speak of His people knowing Him by name, believing in His name. We are ‘kept’ in His name, it is a ‘strong tower’ into which we can run. (Jn.17:11; Pr.18:10)
Jesus’ name summarizes all He is and has done. When God makes His glory pass in front of Moses, He declares His name “Yahweh” out loud as a way of encapsulating His goodness, mercy, love, and power (Ex.33:18ff). Jesus’ name has become the customary way for Christians to seal their prayers, appealing to His aforestated promises.
A new name awaits those who trust in Jesus as Lord and Saviour. When I was young, my parents called me “Ernest”. If I was in trouble, my second name might be added for emphasis (“Ernest Walter!”). In high school, my classmates called me the less formal “Ernie” (although its appeal diminished somewhat with the popularity of the Sesame Street character). In my adult years, I have probably been rather too serious returning to “Ernest” once more. But Scripture promises a new moniker awaits when this earthly realm passes away and we join our Saviour in heaven. “To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.” (Rev.2:17) That will be our best and dearest name yet!
