Day 7: Vayishlach/Genesis 32:3-36:43

What’s in a name? For reasons that man can fathom, the Name above all names is the most important and encompasses more than man possibly understand. Not only does Elohim disclose His personage in different names and at differing times, but He does this with progressive revelation, seemingly only revealing His name as YHVH at the burning bush encounter with Moshe. Shemot 6:2-3 reveals “Elohim spoke further to Moshe and said to him, ‘I am YHVH; and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as El Shaddai, but by My name, YHVH, I did not make Myself known to them.'” Therefore, it should be no wonder that the Creator would reveal who His children are through progressive revelation.

It was not until Abraham that YHVH established His Covenant. It would be through Abraham and his seed that the Covenant would perpetuate and that in Abraham’s seed, not only would all the nations of the earth be blessed, but the name of YHVH’s people would be named through Isaac. Thus, when the patriarchs of Torah and the prophets remember Elohim, they name Him in conjunction with Abraham, Isaac, and Yacov, not just Elohim and not only tied to Abraham.

This raises the importance of the lineages handed down through Torah. Torah reveals the lineage of YHVH’s chosen people and the lineage from where the seed of unrighteousness, discord, and the anti-Messiah is derived. Sadly, many can be from the household of Promise, yet, miss the mark (sin) and find themselves in corruption. Yacov was not Israel until he struggled, wrestled, and prevailed. This lead to the Covenant being reaffirmed and established in Yacov, not just from Isaac or Abraham, and done so from the mouth of El-Elohe-Israel. From that point forth, Yacov was Israel as he overcame the world and prevailed in the Ruach of YHVH and His righteousness.

Through Adam, all the sons of YHVH came forth. Then, due to the corruption of sin, Noach became the conduit for YHVH’s people. Not all of Noach’s sons, however, were used to carry the righteous seed—only Shem. Through Shem (Semitic), Eber populated those across the Euphrates, in the land of Ur. From him and his crossing over the Great River came a descendant that would cross back and be remembered for Eber’s namesake (i.e. Hebrew). This was Abraham.

Hebrew is not made up as a definition or label but is from the forefathers bearing the seed from Noach and Shem that would keep the promise and hope of the One that would one day smite the serpent’s head as promised to Adam and Chavah. Thus, Abraham begot Isaac who had two children, Esau and Yacov.

The first would not safeguard his inheritance and sold it cheaply. Esau became Edom, who would populate Sier and the aquabah of modern-day southwestern Jordan. This is where King Herod originated and a place that will be used to shelter Israel in the last days. The second son would traverse his forefather’s homeland in search of a bride(s) and trade service in return for his amassed fortunes. Only after Yacov finished his labor in a foreign land that he became known as Israel and the father of the twelve tribes thereof. From those twelve sons, all of Israel would be named for the sake of inheritance; moreover, to enter into YHVH’s Kingdom, one will have to go through one of the twelve gates that will be known by the twelve tribes’ names.

From this, it should be ascertained that neither Abraham, Isaac, nor Yacov were promised descendants with labels such as Methodist, Baptist, Charismatic, or Catholic. On the contrary, those whose heritage is from YHVH and carry the Seed of Righteousness being Covenant keepers do not have the need for labels and designations. Instead, they are known by YHVH as Israel, or they are referred to as the nations if they have not yet joined themselves to Israel through Covenant relationships and the promise of acceptance of that Covenant (this occurs through word/oath and deed/fruit, all birthed by the Ruach). That means our earliest, post-Messiah forefathers were not called Christians (even though this designation was given as a form of persecution to the early church); rather, they were called by the name of their forefathers—by Noach, Shem, Eber, Abraham, Isaac, and Israel—being the church, Israel, Israelite, or believers in the Way.

As we come into Covenant through Messiah and His grace that reveals that truth to us, we are to embrace His Name and lose our own identity. Yoseph did this as he presented his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. Through those sons, Yoseph was named in Yacov’s blessings and remembered in Israel. He gave up his name for the sake of his sons becoming perpetual heirs.

Yoseph had married an Egyptian and a high priest’s daughter at that. His identity was marred with a foreign nation. Therefore, he gave up his identity for the sake of his sons being a greater part of Israel, becoming natural born sons of Yacov.

In the same way, we enter through Yeshua as His brothers and sisters, fellow heirs of the Promise. We are not called by our own names but through His. This does not necessarily make us Yeshuaites, but it does make us His followers and believers. He grafts us into the sanctified bloodline of Israel and can distinguish no earthly identity in us unless we revert to that old sin nature.

We have no need for Christianized labels or monikers of manmade doctrines and theologies. Instead of asking “What’s in a name?” it should be asked, “Who’s your daddy?” In fact, we have many names and many forefathers. We are of Abraham; therefore, we are Hebrew because we have crossed over from darkness into His marvelous light. We are of Isaac and realize the price of Yeshua’s life laid down for us. We are of Yacov, as we struggle and strive to prevail and overcome.

As our identity reflects, we cross over the adversities and challenges that separate us from YHVH in order to remain clean and pure. We overcome this world and man to be known as Israel.

Soon, YHVH will give us a new name that no one knows but Himself, just as He will reveal a Name for Himself not known by us. These names, our names, and the names of YHVH are not of man. They are breathed from the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Yacov. May we be named by the mouth YHVH, which He has sanctified and preserved through the Covenant and for the ages to come.

Dwell upon Isaiah 62:1-3, “For Tzion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep quiet, until her righteousness goes forth like brightness, and her salvation like a torch that is burning. The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; and you will be called by a new name which the mouth of YHVH will designate. You will also be a crown of beauty in the hand of YHVH, and a royal diadem in the hand of your Elohim.”