Does God identify us by our name?

The Bible mentions a character whose name is not given. However, God worked wonders through him, displaying signs of His power. This man was known as the ‘man of God from Judah’. We may wonder if God withheld his name because he failed Him, or if the title God gave him was more significant than his name. Sometimes, we are unaware of God’s plans, and we may fail Him by not understanding His full plan. But we must ensure that we follow the right path, based on all that we know about God.



Jeroboam thought to himself, “The kingdom is now likely to revert to the house of David. If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam.”  1 Kings 12:26,27

Jeroboam, who was chosen by God to be the king of Israel, rebelled against Rehoboam, the king of Judah. He was insecure and feared that his people would pledge their allegiance to Judah, especially since the temple of the Lord was located there. To prevent this, he created an alternate god and made a golden calf, which he placed in Bethel and Dan. He wanted his people to worship this god in Israel, rather than in Judah, where the true God was worshiped.

It would not be inaccurate to say that Jeroboam was afraid of Judah. He was worried that Judah’s prosperity would entice his people away from him. Jeroboam was also afraid of living without God, which led him to create an alternate god in the form of a golden calf. This is the same calf that Israel had made at Mount Sinai, calling it the god who brought them out of Egypt. It’s interesting to note that Jeroboam, who was afraid and insecure forgot the punishment Israel had to go through when they made that golden calf in the past.

By the word of the Lord a man of God came from Judah to Bethel, as Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make an offering. He cried out against the altar by the word of the Lord: “O altar, altar! This is what the Lord says: A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who now make offerings here, and human bones will be burned on you.’” 1 Kings 13:1,2

Here, a man of God from Judah came to Bethel to prophecy against the altar that Jeroboam created. He was commanded by God not to eat or drink or return by the way he came. If Jeroboam refused to let his people go to Judah, God also commanded complete separation of that prophet. God did not want that prophet to eat or drink from that place of Israel. He raised a prophet from Judah just because Jeroboam was afraid of Judah.

Similarly, Jesus commands us to stay from this world, and for His name’s sake, we may have to suffer affliction. The world becomes our enemy because we follow Him, and truth be told, they are afraid of us. However, God gives us His grace and power to defeat these worldly powers. It’s not our name that matters, just as the name of the prophet from Judah was not given. It’s the title that matters, title of that prophet was ‘Man of God from Judah’. God has given us some titles. The salt of this world, the light of this world etc. Hence, we must stay away from the things that this world has to offer, and cry out against all those alternate solutions that the world has embraced.

While they were sitting at the table, the word of the Lord came to the old prophet who had brought him back. He cried out to the man of God who had come from Judah, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You have defied the word of the Lord and have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. You came back and ate bread and drank water in the place where he told you not to eat or drink. Therefore your body will not be buried in the tomb of your fathers.” 1 Kings 13:20-22

As this man of God was about to return to Judah, an old prophet from Israel deceived him. He lied to him and made him disobey God. It’s true that the man was unaware of why God told him not to eat or drink, But God is a zealous God and won’t give a reason for the enemy to laugh.

We too may be unaware of God’s plan. When God performs mighty miracles in our lives and answer our prayers, we may think that God is very fond of us. But the truth is we are nothing but an instrument or a weapon in the hands of God. We are chosen because we are suited to cut through the lines of the enemy but, if we are slipping away from His hand then some lions may come in our way.

If Jeroboam feared that his people would turn to Judah, God made sure that the destruction of Jeroboam and Israel would come from Judah. It’s not the name that matters, but why God prepared us for all these years. If God called us the salt of this world, it’s because the worlds is losing its saltiness. If God has kindled a light in us, it’s because somewhere, darkness has started to rule. Every arrow has a purpose, and that’s what matters in the QUIVER OF GOD.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts of this blog

Cut down, to be Grafted.

Image
When your words came, I ate them: they were my joy and my heart's delight, O Lord GOD Almighty.  I never sat in the company of revellers never made merry with them;I sat alone because your hand was on me and you had filled me with indignation. Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable? Will you be to me like a deceptive Brook like a spring that fails? Jeremiah 15:16-18 We all know how joyful it is to recieve the word from GOD. When promise comes people leave their household like Abraham, they completely forget everything and follow the promisekeeper. But to reach the fulfillment of promise people go through many difficulties. They are cut down completely, and are alone with only promise in their hand. Jacob recieves the promise or blessing from Isaac and from that time onwards he was alone,  alone in Bethel, alone in Laban's house, alone when his wives fought over. Joseph saw dreams and got so excited that he started to tell his brothers resulting in an exclus
Read more

Who do people say I am?

Image
  Does it matter to us what others think about us? If we were to listen to every others perspective about us, then perhaps no one can live on this planet. Generally, people say never get bothered about what others think and say about you. When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”     Mathew 16:13,14 In this passage, it seems that Jesus wants to know what others thought about him. Not that it mattered to him but He just wanted an opinion from his disciples about what others thought about him. Jesus always knew what others thought about him. There were many serious accusations against him. He was called rabbi by some people, whereas some people said he was possessed by Beelzebub. Some said he was just a carpenter’s son. These things never bothered Jesus or his ministry. But now, standing in Caesarea Ph
Read more

One GOD, Who plays many roles for us..[Part 2]

Image
Almighty GOD, who reveals himself in different roles, in different situation,for different purpose. He plays his part perfectly, be it as a friend for Abraham or a father to Jacob. He is perfect.  GOD wanted to play the role of a king in the lives of Israel. Hence, only judges were appointed but they wanted a Human king who can Lord over them and show  other countries that they too have a king. But what they didn't know was that GOD will play the role even if they don't accept it. Hence, When Son of GOD died on the cross a written charge was placed saying 'THE KING OF THE JEWS' , a king (a leader) taking all the sins of his people on his own head and taking the punishment. My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 2:1.                                            Jesus playing the role of advocate. For both He who sanctifies and  those who are being
Read more

Are you zealous for God..

Image
The zeal towards God defines our relationship with God. People who are zealous for God mostly have a good relationship with the Almighty. Greater the anointing of God greater will be the zeal for God. If one loses the anointing, he will eventually lose his zeal. The zeal that comes under pressure. Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the Lord will act on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.” 1 Samuel 14:6   When Philistines tried to defeat Israel, they came with a plan to stop the production of weapons in the land of Israel. Somehow, they brought all the blacksmiths of Israel to Philistine. Only two swords were found in Israel. One was with King Saul and the other was with Prince Jonathan. For many days Philistine threatened Israel and brave soldiers went into hiding. They hid themselves in caves and holes of mountains. Jonathan got frustrated by the daily
Read more

Standing on the promise of GOD

Image
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.                                                Hebrews 10:23 Promises of GOD keeps us motivated to move forward in Christ. A promise that was made by JESUS two thousand years ago that he will return keeps us motivated and we are waiting on him eagerly. A promise can change life. GOD saw Abraham and said leave your household and promised him to make him into great nations (Genesis 12:1,2).JESUS saw Peter and said 'Follow me , I will make you fishers of men.' (Mathew 4:19) and Ta...Da...Peter's life changed . Everytime GOD promised , people 's life changed or put it this way his promises are meant to change people.  Promises are meant to be kept not to be broken. Promise is directly proportional to the faith in the person who promised. If you have faith on a person it means you know he will fulfill his promise.  Standing on a promise would mean to believe in the person who promised. When GOD
Read more

Five Senses of a Christian man- Ears hear..

Image
Humans do have five senses with which they try to rule this world. These five senses help them to understand nature and their surrounding and they react accordingly. In our Christian life, these senses can help us to stay closer to God or can drive us away from God.  'Hearing' is one of the senses with which we percieve our surrounding. Most of us would prefer calmer places and would hope to find rest for our ears, or soothing voices that can revive our ears from all the disturbance and  noises we heard in our entire life. This is what happens to a Christian man,  he likes to hear God's voice but the noises that the demon creates confuses him. Ultimately he closes his ears and in his closed ears he hears the noises that the devil created, and he chooses that.  Eve used all five senses to sin. She heard the Serpent, saw the fruit, touched it, must have smelled it, and ultimately  tasted it. Notable  point here is that hearing can lead us to sin, and can influence other sense
Read more

When God remembers His covenant..

Image
We all know our God is a faithful God. We know He will fulfill all His promises and covenants.   But the thing we don’t know and the thing we all want to know is His time in which He will do His things. And the beauty of that time is He will do the things swiftly. God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. Exodus 2:24 There’s a time when God remembers His covenant. Moreover, the groaning of His people forced Him to remember the covenant made to Father Abraham. When God considers His covenant, people forget to keep their side of that covenant. When Moses was called to rescue the people of Israel. God showed Him some of the great miracles. He instructed him how to speak to the Pharoah, how to convince and show the great signs to the people of Israel. But when Moses gets ready to go to Egypt, God decides to kill him. At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met Moses and was about to kill him. But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut
Read more