The God of [Your Name Here]

Did you ever notice how often God introduces himself as “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” in the Old Testament, or how often people refer to Him as “the God of” a specific person or group of people?

Even today, connections help define us. When we meet new people, we often help them understand who we are by explaining who we work with or mentioning relatives they might know. Knowing the connections of new people we meet helps us understand who they are if we already know their spouse, kids, parents, or coworkers. A connection with someone we like helps ensure the new person makes a positive impression on us. On the other hand, if they’re connected with someone we don’t have a good experience with, that will color our first impression of them. We can still remind ourselves to judge the other person based on their own merits, but their associations impact our reaction to them.

Similarly, when a voice spoke to Moses from the burning bush and said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (Ex. 3:6, WEB), the association with Moses’s ancestors helped him understand who was speaking to him. It was only after introducing Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and claiming Israel as His people that God shared His name. Even then, He reiterated His association with His follower as part of His identity.

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM,” and he said, “You shall tell the children of Israel this: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” God said moreover to Moses, “You shall tell the children of Israel this, ‘Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and this is my memorial to all generations.”

Exodus 3:6-8, 14, WEB

When you think about it, it’s mindboggling that Almighty God decided to connect His reputation to human beings. What if Moses had heard Abraham’s name and thought, “You mean you’re the God of a guy who let two kings take his wife because he thought lying would save his own skin? who banished his firstborn son and the slave-girl who gave birth to him, and didn’t seem to care if they lived or died?” Those are things that Abraham did, and they were not good things. At the end of the day, though, those mistakes are not what Abraham is known for. He is remembered for his faithfulness and his friendship with God (James 2:21-23; Heb. 11:8-10, 17-19).

What does that have to do with us? Much like Moses’s understanding of Yahweh was impacted by knowing Him as “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,” the people we meet might have their understanding of God the Father and Jesus Christ impacted by our lives as Christians.

Names and Reputations

Much like God chose to connect His reputation to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, He did the same for ancient Israel. In Hebrew thought, names are linked to reputation. So when God says He’s putting His name on someone, He’s linking them to His family and to His reputation.

Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘This is how you shall bless the children of Israel.’ You shall tell them,

‘Yahweh bless you, and keep you.
    Yahweh make his face to shine on you,
    and be gracious to you.
Yahweh lift up his face toward you,
    and give you peace.’

“So they shall put my name on the children of Israel; and I will bless them.”

Numbers 6:22-27, WEB

Several times through scripture, God refers to His people as the ones who are called by His name (Deut. 28:10; 2 Chron. 7:14; Is. 43:7). Placing His name on people indicates they belong to Him. With His name on us, there are certain things we are and are not supposed to do.

“You shall not misuse the name of Yahweh your God, for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who misuses his name.

Exodus 20:7, WEB

A more traditional rendering of this verse is “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.” The Hebrew words behind “take in vain” or “misuse” include the idea of us carrying God’s reputation with us. An expanded translation could be something like, “You shall not lift up or invoke the name/reputation of Yahweh your Elohim in a false, empty, or worthless manner.”

Leaving a Legacy

We ought to be careful how we conduct ourselves as representatives of God. Our actions reflect on Him. When King David committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband Uriah killed, Nathan the prophet said, “Yahweh also has put away your sin. You will not die. However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to Yahweh’s enemies to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you will surely die” (2 Sam. 12:13-14, WEB). David’s actions did not change God’s nature, but by acting in a way contrary to God’s character he gave God’s enemies ammunition to use in their railing against God.

It is good to remember that we don’t have the power to ruin God’s reputation with our mistakes, or to make Him so angry that He refuses to forgive us when we repent. Even as high-profile as some of Abraham’s and David’s mistakes were, sincere repentance and humility repaired the relationships they had with God. God called Abraham His friend and David a man after His own heart. Both left a legacy that speaks to God’s faithfulness, forgiveness, and investment in humanity.

“I know that you have little strength, but you have obeyed my word and have not denied my name. … I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one can take away your crown. The one who conquers I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never depart from it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from my God), and my new name as well.”

Revelation 3:8, 11-12, NET

We can also leave a legacy that reflects well on God, despite our inevitable human shortcomings, so long as we continue following Him and repenting when we miss the mark. Sometimes, we’ll be demonstrating that our God can forgive and work with deeply flawed people. Overall, though, we should be showing how much God can transform us into better people as we carry His name and reputation in a true, meaningful, and worthy manner.

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