WHAT’S IN A NAME?
Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 1-2
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
The rose red rock city of Seir, Petra (1 Chronicles 1:38) in Edom, carved into the rock by the descendants of Esau, son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham. This building is now called Ad Deir (Arabic for “The Monastery”). It is one of the monumental buildings carved out of the rock. It measures 50 metres wide by approximately 45 metres high. To understand the magnitude of the Monastery, look closely to see the man standing in the entrance. Although this structure may have been later used as a church, it was probably a temple. It may have been dedicated to the deified Nabatean King Obodas I, who reigned in the 1st century BC.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: 1 Chronicles 1:1-4
“Adam, Seth, Enosh, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah, Shem, Ham and Japheth.”
It’s a challenge to read with enthusiasm these chapters which seem to be simply a list of names. But this is more than that; this is a genealogical map of God’s plan for His human family.
(1) God knows our names and values us as individuals. Imagine the infinite value that God places on each person. Revelation 21:27 tells us of “Those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” (read Revelation 20:11-15). Jesus will read out loud from the Book of Life before His Father and the angels (Revelation 3:5). Paul tells in Philippians 4:3 about his fellow workers whose names are written in the Book of Life. Our names are important to God.
(2) There is an amazing compound-complex sentence that can be made from the Hebrew meanings of the 10 names in our key verse. Those meanings are on the internet. Check it out and try to make a sentence out of them. It’s amazing! Write it out! (click here).
(3) In 1979 Dr. Arthur Custance was a guest on the 100 Huntley Street telecast. He was an historian with the Federal Government of Canada, Department of Foreign Affairs. His book, “Noah’s Three Sons,” was published by Moody Press (several copies are available on Amazon – click here). In it he traced the names of the children of the last three men mentioned in our key verses to present day places all over the world. This is a most amazing proof of the accuracy of the Scriptures and the story of Noah, his sons and their wives.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I thank You for the inner assurance I have that You have written my name in “The Lamb’s Book of Life.” I pray that today I will have the opportunity to introduce someone to You, Lord Jesus, and then as they confess You openly, You will confess that name before Your Father and the Angels! (Revelation 3:5b). Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
It was the Summer of 1968 when I first learned of the meanings of the names of the ten ancient patriarchs. I was the youth speaker at a Sylvan Lake, Alberta, camp meeting. The Rev. Edward Menaldino of Philadelphia, the adult camp speaker, shared this with me. He said that the myth of the ten gods of the Romans and the Greeks may have originated from the stories of these men mentioned in Genesis 5. I was intrigued and wrote out the following sentence based on the meanings of their names: “Man of earth, chosen, nominated, appointed by God, struggled to no avail, became weak and sickly, and the Glory of Elohim (God) descended, brought teaching, suffered death, and now brings rest and comfort.” The meaning of Noah’s name is the only one given to us in Scripture. The others come to us from the ancient Hebrew language (click here for Genesis 5).
Over the years I’ve shared the significance of the meanings of these Hebrew names with Jewish friends as a way of introducing Jesus and God’s plan of salvation hidden away in those names. Of course the most effective way I found to share Jesus is to take the time to identify the personal pronouns of the book of Isaiah, a prophet of the tribe of Judah, a descendant of King David, who wrote his book some 700 years before Jesus was born. Having found dozens of personal pronouns, I ask, “Who ever lived whose name could be substituted for those pronouns?” I’ve never had any answer to that question other than “Jesus.” I’ve often wondered why Isaiah is the only book that was preserved as a complete manuscript in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Could it be the providence of God? Isaiah is known as the Gospel of the Hebrew Scriptures.
Yours for the assurance that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man (and woman) of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17),
David
Speaking of patriarchs… Here I am a few years back at the grave of my great-grandfather. His name on that tombstone, Joseph Mainse, is of great importance to me because his conversion to Christ changed the direction of my family 180 degrees.
WOW…. I love that I am learning so much about the faithfulness of God
through Bible history!
PRAISE THE LORD
we need to remember that David Mainse passed away some time ago; I understand it is his son that keeps these blogs going, I am very thankful for that because it is so encouraging to read these words again, over and over, Thank You Lord
prayer of thanksgiving; a company forgave me $300.00. I paid an amount last year but company had no proof; then God provided proof and I have been forgiven to pay the balance, I am so thankful to the Lord for this wonderful gift;
I also thank the Lord for hearing our prayers of healing for many people on this site; blessings and healings to all….
I thank God for His faithfulness through the generations, even to us!
I sure agree!
I’ve read that before about the story in the ancient names.It also reveals how “God is already there”.Time does not exist for God.
Picture a circle on a sheet of paper.It has no start and no end.God is “inside” that circle (in the center of) and can touch any part of that circle but we ate “in” that circle and it appears a straight line to us.This ‘helps’ me to understand time but only God knows about time.God bless
Time
Time is a dream where everyone partakes,
Like a bubble on the circle of eternity,
Where God can reach out as He makes
Each one ready to find infinity.
Time is made with a start and a finish,
Where eternity had never known such,
So He could measure without anguish
Every deed we do and each heart we touch.
Time is a miracle that hides our lives
Where darkness is a future yet unknown,
For this darkness has treasure that gives
Light unto the many who’s truth he’s shown.
Time is a gift that will show The Master,
That we freely choose to love fellow man,
Or we fall in selfish disaster,
Where some choose to reject His holy plan.
Time will end at Heaven’s gates where His love
Will welcome His holy Lamb and His sheep,
With new work in His Kingdom above
To find the reward that each one shall reap.
G W (Bill) Marshall / 06 July, 2013
I typed ” God in ancient China”in the search window of Youtube,a video I watched with amazement.He was there too.There were many results shown in Youtube
Here’s the link.God bless
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=god+in+ancient+china
Thanking God for the Christian heritage that I have and believe I am the product of my maternal grandmother’s prayers who came from England in 1904.
How special is that! David can stand beside the grave of his great grandfather. Sadly, it looks like his g. grandfather died very young.
Always enjoy the 100 Huntley St. telecast and especially the guests who tell their wondrous stories of how they have come to our Lord. Yesterday there was a young gentleman guest with Tourette Syndrome who stated that as long as he was singing his brain worked just fine. I found a rather amazing video on YouTube of an inebriated gentleman who seemed just fine when he sang also. God presents us with some tough riddles to solve. Enjoy and may God bless us all:
https://youtu.be/m-Udb0pX2jU
God bless you Lynda! I have sung with many adults with brain injuries BUT when they sing; it takes your breath away; I always cry and thank the Holy Spirit for this wonderful gift of being able to hear this pp;
I also know a few guys over the years that when they were drunk; boy could they play the piano and the guitar; they had no fears; just played like angels, it was amazing for me to hear this happening;
yes indeed; we do have a good and gracious God
PTL off to swimming tonight; believe I posted before
have room,bath, own entrance for busy,mature working person;non/smoker/booze/pets/parties; only responsible,respectful person needed perhaps supporting family somewhere; Lord hear our prayers and TY Lord amen amen
William, that link is really incredible!! Thanks so much.
What a great testimony re your great-grandfather’s conversion, his life as a testimony to the future generation of the Mainse family!
David looks so young and healthy in the picture!
today’s scripture was so difficult to concentrate on, and difficult names to pronounce, but so important .
Praise God this afternoon it poured rain for a few hours, I hope it quenched the wild fires in High Level!!
yes Lord we need RAIN,RAIN,RAIN we need the rain to put out the fires Lord, please bring down rain for all the people in Canada;North America
Thank you Lord in Jesus Name we Pray amen