The Power in a Name

The Power in His Name: Begins with REST

Have you ever wondered why God took so much time in Scripture to put the names of generations in the Bible? As I was studying the book of Genesis, I came to Chapter 10, which records the generations of the sons of Noah. As I went down the list trying to pronounce each name I asked the Lord "why is this in here, and what do these names mean to me and my relationship with Him that He would consider it necessary for me to know this information?"

The first thing that was brought to my attention by the Holy Spirit was that these were the people that were saved from the judgment of God! They came AFTER the flood. Noah's sons and the seeds of the future generations were not destroyed. The next thing that I became aware of, was that only Noah truly believed in what God was doing. He did not know what rain or flooding was all about, or how it would cause all the people to perish except whom was in the Ark, but he believed God and obeyed. Noah brought his sons and their wives with him into the safety of the Ark, but Scripture does not tell us that they believed also. They may have thought they were following a crazy old man who had been building this huge boat for 100 years while he declares that rain is coming and everyone will be wiped out.

So what was the personality and character of the generations of people that where brought into the promise land after the flood without experiencing death? I believe we can grasp some wisdom by the names that are given to us in this chapter in Genesis. This information is not exhaustive, but to be used as nuggets of revelation to stir a hunger to dig deeper into some Biblical truths that God has for us.

Noah - rest

Shem - honor, dust, outer court of the tabernacle, children in Christ Ham - hot, sand, middle court, Pentecostal, spirit filled believers Japheth - open, stars, inner court understanding, crossing over, transformation

Japheth's sons:

Gomer - complete, perfect Magog - land of God Madai - middle land Javan - hot and active Tubal - you shall be bought Meshech - drawing or fishing out Tiras - desire

Gomer's sons:

Ashkenaz - man sprinkled with fire Riphath - spoken for by the word Togarmah - you will break her (the soul's control)

Javan's sons:

Elishah - God of the coming one Tarshish - yellow jasper, precious stone, character of gold Kittim - someone who is tough and stands firm, tough love Dodanim - leader, overcomes

I would like to point out at this time to note that Scripture does not mention in the genealogy of Noah the other sons of Japheth. I do not believe we can assume that there were no male children born to the other sons, but that there was a reason by God for us to know the ones that are spoken of to give us wisdom that carries a revelation for us today.

Scripture does tell us in verse 5 of Chapter 10 that Japheth's children and grandchildren formed the isles of the Gentiles, yet his genealogy represents the inner court of the Tabernacle of God. This inner court is recognized throughout Scripture of where God resides, the Most Holy place that exists. This is something to think about declaring that the Gentile's land is the Most Holy place!

To continue on with names…

Ham's sons:

Cush - black Mizraim - land of Egypt, worldly, dual minded, against God Phut - a bow as a weapon, not a covenant of peace Canaan - land or the lowest, low degree of people, people of little worth or value

Cush's sons:

Seba - you drink Havilah - circular Sabtah - striking, old age Raamah - a mane on a horse running in the wind Sabtechah - to cause wounding Nimrod - rebellion, hunter, mighty in the earth

Raamah's sons:

Sheba - the number seven, oath, covenant Dedan - judge in the low country

Mizraim's sons:

Ludim - strife Anamim - affliction of the waters Lehabim - flames Naphtuhim - opening, Egyptian tribe, confusion Pathrusim - region of the south, comfort place, complacent Casluhim - fortified Philistim - rolling in the dust, enjoying the earthly things Caphtorim - island shaped like a crown, isolated, separated, self focused

Canaan's sons:

Sidon - catching fish Heth - terror (Hetites) Jebusite - religious spirit Amorite - spirit of pride Girgasite - lying spirit Hivite - violence Arkite - gnawing at something Sinite - bush with thorns Arvadite - "I shall break loose", rebellion at the maximum Zemarite - double fleece of wool, insecurity Hamathite - walled, a religious mind that can't be changed, not teachable

Again we note, that not all of Ham's sons' families are mentioned. Ham's genealogy represents the middle court of the Tabernacle of God. Many Christians refer to this as a place of Pentecost, being spirit-filled, mature in Christ, etc. In Old Testament times, it was the Holy place where only the Levitical priesthood was allowed to enter. If Ham's genealogy is a type and shadow of the personalities and characters that reflects the middle court we need to re-evaluate our own judgmental views of what God calls good and righteous and what we do!

Scripture informs us in verse 10 of chapter 10 in Genesis that the beginning of the kingdom of Babel (confusion), Erech (rebellion), Accad (subtle), Calneh (fortress), in the land of Shinar (2 rivers, doubleminded) came from the genealogy of Ham. Out of this land of the middle court mindset also came the city of Ashur (happy, success), Nineveh (pagan gods), Rehoboth (center of city focus, self-centered), Calah (maturity), and Resen (bridle of a horse, control).

Moving into the outer court of the Tabernacle of God we have the genealogy of Shem:

Elam - eternity, distant Asshur - happy, successful Arphaxad - doesn't want the milk of the mother Lud - strideful Aram - exhausted, prideful

Aram's sons:

Uz - council of words, knows everything in his mind Hul - circle, keeps going over the same thing, can't make decisions Gether - fear of unknown Mash - drawing out, draining

Arphaaxad's son:

Salah - sprout

Salah's son:

Eber - region beyond

Eber's sons:

Peleg - division, earthquake Joktan - small, little

Joktan's sons:

Almodad - not measured (the outer court is not measured) Sheleph - extracted or drawn forth Hazarmaveth - village of death Jerah - new moon Hadoram - noble honor Uzal - I shall be flooded Diklah - palm grows Obal - stripped bare Abimael - father is God Sheba - oath or covenant Ophir - reduced to ashes Havilah - circular Jobab - hatred, howling like a dog

Scripture informs us that Shem's families dwelled from Mesha (freedom, eternity) to Sephar (numbered, time) of a mount of the east (new beginnings).

This chapter ends by repeating that these are the families of the sons of Noah. They came out of the seed that Noah produced, and they came after the flood. Even though this chapter does not continue on with the genealogy of the man named Eber, it is continued in the next chapter. From his lineage we find the man called Abraham that God said ALL families of the earth would be blessed through him.

The ways of God are foolishness to the natural man's understanding. We can not interpret God's word with boundaries that most people may be able to fit into, yet leave some people out that don't. God uses the word ALL throughout Scripture in the context of ALL. His Tabernacle, or dwelling place, includes all 3 courts, as well as, what is outside the courts. When the High Priest went into the Holy of Holies once a year, the sins were forgiven for ALL the people, not just the ones inside the courts, and not just the ones that were aware of what the High Priest was doing.

Most people have at least 2 names. The last name gives identity to their natural heritage. The first name gives identity to their place and position of their God identity for His glory. Few people would consider naming a child Lazarus which means "no hope," but God had a plan of taking "no hope" and resurrecting life to him for ALL generations to witness the power of the WORD creates LIFE or DEATH.

It is God's will that no one should perish, but ALL come into the kingdom of God. When we put limitations and conditions on people's lives of what they should or shouldn't be doing based on how we have interpreted God's word, we may be hindering the unity and development of the body of Christ that is not suppose to be manifested for generations to come. There is the realm of life where what we sow we will reap. It doesn't take being a Christian to justify the laws of God and the consequences of the law. Being born again, born from above, means that today we live in the age of the Dispensation of GRACE where the law can not go. Because of the amazing GRACE and LOVE God bestowed on us while we were in the pit of ignorace and hell, we now have that same power and authority to release on others that don't deserve it

Jesus Christ is the head of the WHOLE body. He died for the sins of the world. Our belief or not belief does not change the fact of what He did. Our belief is suppose to bring unity in working with Him to bring forth the manifestation of His coming. However, those that do not believe have just as significant a part in what God is doing for the whole body. God allows the rain and sun to bless the righteous and the unrighteous. It is the responsibility of the Holy Spirit to draw all men to the Father, not ours. Our responsibility as believers is for non-believers to see Jesus in us (the character and nature of our Heavenly Father), so that the whole earth will be filled with His glory.

With all the diversity and uniqueness in the body of Christ, the testimony of this message is to enter into His gates with praise and thanksgiving. Each of us has a song in our heart waiting to be released into the atmosphere that gives praises unto God. It is the beginning of any fine musical piece. Then comes the REST. The REST is not the end of the song, but determines how the song is to be continued. If our desire is to come into His presence into the Holy of Holies and stay there resting with Him in heavenly places, we will die. Our Heavenly Father's ways are new every morning and are meant to be released in the earth bringing others to the Father. Resting with our Beloved Savior and Lord Jesus Christ is not the end of the song, but the opportunity to arise and shine for our LIGHT has COME.

And the Spirit and the Bride say come (Rev. 22:17).