The sons of Japheth;
Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and
Meshech, and Tiras.
And the sons of Gomer;
Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.
And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish,
Kittim, and Dodanim.
By these were the
isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue,
after their families,
in their nations.
And the sons of Ham; Cush , and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan .
And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and
Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha: and
the sons of Raamah; Sheba
And Cush
What a list of
names! There are times when I come to a
list of names like this and I skim
through it, attempting
to read it without trying to correctly pronounce each name. It
rarely works.
But then, I stop and remember that each written name is a
person’s name; a real person who lived and died, who existed in this world,
even as I do. Their name was important
to them, as mine is to me. It is the way
one is identified. That is Gomer, he is
the son of Japheth. He lives on the east side of the camp. Gomer, there is an entire life hiding behind
that name; growing up, falling in love, learning a trade, seeing the Creator of
the universe work, hearing his father tell of the long ride in the large
boat. It is important.
Has someone ever called you by the wrong name, or
mispronounced your name? Did you correct
them right away? Your name is important
to you, it is how you are addressed, and it identifies you and separates you
from the rest of the humans on this globe.
If you are looking to
know someone, you learn their name early on.
You want that person to know that their name is important to you,
too. Politeness requires you to learn
and remember the names of those around you, those with whom you rub shoulders. This knowing of names indicates that you are
serious in intending to know a person, to do business with someone, to befriend
a person. It is not a throwaway habit;
it is kindness to treat one with the respect that is shown by knowing their
name. Let’s be honest, when someone
remembers our name, we are buoyed. It
can feed the ego and the soul. It feels
good.
Can you imagine if your mother forgot your name? Even if she had to name every other child and
pet in the family until she reached your name in the list, she did not forget,
she just took her time! But when your
name is forgotten, it is a small taste of a lack of significance. You may be important, just not as important
as you thought. It leaves a small
twinge, a tiny pain, but it happens, so we all move on.
There is a scene in the Christmas movie, “Jingle All the
Way,” that has captured the importance of one’s name in a sweet way. Jamie is a young boy, is watching the holiday parade, waiting for
the float that carries his hero, TurboMan.
TurboMan is the TV and action figure currently popular with all
children, and Jamie wants one for Christmas. What Jaime doesn’t know is that he
father has been co-opted into playing the part of TurboMan. When the float nears Jamie, it stops as TurboMan is supposed to pick one child from
the crowd to receive a TurboMan figure.
As TurboMan, surveys the crowd, his gaze stops on Jamie and he points,
and points again to Jamie. Finally,
TurboMan points at Jamie and calls his name.
It is at this point that Jamie turns in wonder to his friend and says,
“He knows my name.” The wonder of his
hero knowing his name, identifying him in a crowd and picking him out is overwhelming, wondrous and
grand!
How would you feel if it was you? I know I would be thrilled and amazed. “He knows my name!” What a feeling. Your name is important, identifying you and
separating you from all others.
But then we all have had the One, who knows our name.
But now, O
Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you
says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name;
you are mine.
Is 43:1
It is the God of
all creation that stands there, points His finger toward you, invites you and
calls you by your name.
He knows your
name.
I love this!
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