Ezekiel 20:1-22:16
Ezekiel 20: 8-9, “…they rebelled against Me and would not listen … Then I threatened to pour out my fury on them to satisfy my anger while they were still in Egypt. But I didn’t do it, for I acted to protect the honor of My name. I would not allow shame to be brought on My name among the surrounding nations who saw Me reveal Myself by bringing the Israelites out of Egypt.”
In the words of William Shakespeare, “What’s in a name? A rose, by any other name, would smell just as sweet.” It’s true. A rose isn’t identified merely by its name but also by its smell and beauty. The same is true of God. When we speak of Him, there is far more to His name than we can truly grasp.
In Hebrew, God’s name, YAHWEH, was considered to be so holy by the Israelites that they didn’t ever speak it aloud. This reverence for God’s name is indicative of His character and nature. There’s truly something awe-inspiring and powerful about that name.
As we read God’s indictment of His very own people, we might find ourselves wondering: “Why didn’t they obey? How could they turn to idols? And why didn’t God completely destroy them?” As we’ve read throughout the Old Testament, we’ve seen how many opportunities He gave them to turn from idolatry and back to Him — the One who delivered their ancestors out of Egyptian slavery. Although it would have been just to destroy them in anger, He continued to give them more chances — to “protect the honor” of His name.
As Christ-followers, we’ll never truly grasp the magnitude of God’s name, but we can still be amazed by its power. Because of this, we, too, should be protectors of God’s name as we live a life that honors Him and all that He has done for our salvation and transformation.
Today, give thanks to the name above all names — Jesus Christ! Be amazed by His power, for He is worthy of our praise!
Heavenly Father, Thank You for who You are. I know that I’ll never fully grasp the vast power of Your name, but I want to be in awe of it daily as I discover more and more about You. Today, I praise You and seek to honor Your name with my words and actions. Amen.