“Who led them by the right hand of Moses, with His glorious arm, dividing the water before them to make for Himself an everlasting name . . . . As a beast goes down into the valley, and the Spirit of the Lord causes him to rest, so You lead Your people, to make Yourself a glorious name.” Isa. 63:12, 14. God had a glorious name among the celestial beings, but His name was not known on earth. When Moses came to God to learn His name so he could tell the children of Israel who He was, God said: “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” Ex. 3:13-14. “This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.” V. 15. Thus God began to make His name known to Israel. He led them with a mighty hand out of Egypt. He went before them as a pillar of clouds during the day and a pillar of fire during the night. He divided the sea and gave them food in the desert. They learned to know His goodness and care, His mighty power and wisdom, His longsuffering and faithful mind. However, when they were unfaithful and refused to hear His voice, they learned to know Him as the God who is zealous and severe. After the Lord had made His name known to Israel for many years, the Levites stepped forward and praised His name and said, “Blessed be Your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise!” Neh. 9:5. No matter how much they praised God for His might and wisdom, His love, truthfulness, and righteousness, His infinite goodness and mercy, they knew that their praise of Him was insufficient to describe what He actually was and what He had been for them. He had made Himself a glorious name that was above all blessing and praise. He truly sits enthroned in Israel’s songs of praise. Jesus also had a glorious name in heaven when He was beside His Father as a master craftsman. Prov. 8:30. Nevertheless, His delight was with the sons of men, and He wanted to have a name among them. He forsook the glory He had in heaven, took upon Himself flesh and blood as the children, and was tempted and tried in all things as we are. He humbled Himself and was obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name . . . .” Phil. 2:9. He received the name as the first and greatest among brethren, and He calls Himself the Son of Man. The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, had prevailed to open the scroll. Rev. 5:5. His name is Faithful and True, and He is called the Word of God. Rev. 19. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob received a name from God, and Jesus says that we will sit at the table with them in His kingdom. God chose Abram and gave him the name Abraham because He found that he was faithful in his heart. Neh. 9:7-8. In wartime David behaved more wisely than all of Saul’s servants, so that his name became highly esteemed. 1 Sam. 18:30. He also became known as a man according to God’s heart. Noah, Daniel, and Job became known for being righteous before God (Ezek. 14:14), and Moses, Samuel, and Elijah were known for being men of prayer. Jer. 15:1; Jas. 5:17. The Lord follows along just as carefully in our days, and He gives us a name according to our works and the faithfulness of our hearts. “To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” Rev. 2:17. In eternity we will receive a name that is in accord with our hidden life with Christ. Each one who receives a name will know that it suits him perfectly. We can have a name among people because of our ambitions, yet without having a name before God. The angel in Sardis had a name of being alive, yet he was dead. That is a sad state to be in, regardless of how great a name a person has among people. “You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” Rev. 3:4-5. Even in our days Jesus is looking for people who are worthy to be together with Him in the heavenly mansions. Yet He finds only a few names; but oh, how blessed they are! May He always find us among them. The Bridegroom’s name is “ointment poured forth,” and the bride has the same name. Christ can do such a work with stubborn and self-loving sinners! From thinking only of ourselves we can be transformed so that our inner life can be ointment poured forth to be a blessing and refreshment in all situations. Christ will fetch His equal, someone who is like Him. It is also possible to ruin one’s name through unfaithfulness, as Saul and Balaam did. They had great possibilities, but they were blinded by earthly gain and fell from their high, exalted state. Unfortunately, that is how it has gone with many. “The name of the wicked will rot.” Prov. 10:7. “You have blotted out their name forever and ever.” Ps. 9:5. “Nor take up their names on my lips.” Ps. 16:4. May we understand the seriousness and the possibilities we have in our short period of time on this earth. Let us remain pure and faithful in our hearts so that we will have a good name before God and will be worthy to enter into our inheritance and glory together with the overcomers. “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” Rev. 3:21.Aksel J. Smith