God renames Abram to Abraham - his name meaning changes from 'exalted father' to 'father of a multitude.' The naming is prophetic.
I've changed my name twice - from my birth name to the name my church gave me to my current name. Each time, something shifted about who I understood myself to be. Abraham's renaming says: you're becoming someone new. Your identity is being rewritten.
That's sometimes a beautiful thing and sometimes a violation. In Abraham's case, it seems to be an honor - God is marking a transformation. In some contexts, naming can be about erasure. The difference is consent and respect.
No comments yet. Be the first.