December 17: MEANING IN A NAME
Now when [the wise men] had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” Matthew 2:14-15 (see also Hosea 11:1)
Because of Egypt’s long history of ‘death worship,’ (see Proverbs 8:36) its name became synonymous with atheism. The land of Egypt was abundantly blessed with natural resources. Material blessings often have a way of blinding men to their need of a Savior. But the purposes of God have never been hindered by the blindness of men. No amount of rebellion against God can thwart His divine foresight and planning.
The first Joseph, Jacob’s eleventh son, had also been given dreams by the LORD. Hated by his own brothers, he was sold into Egyptian slavery. But God protected and preserved Joseph, who was a type of Christ. Joseph’s life was in alignment with the will of his heavenly Father; his faithfulness brought about fulfillment of the divine plan to save many people alive in those days of famine. This physical reality foreshadowed the spiritual reality in Jesus, who would come to save His people from their sins (Genesis 50:20, Matthew 1:21).
Moses—also a type of Christ—was commanded by the LORD to return to Egypt:
“. . . you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Israel is My son, My firstborn. So I say to you, let My son go, that he may serve Me…”’” [But] Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go.” Exodus 4:22-23a; 5:2
Behind Pharaoh’s attitude stood Satan himself. In his response, the controversy between good and evil is exposed: “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice . . . ?” Satan wanted to elevate himself above God, the attitude which reveals the foundation of the great controversy.
When Jesus was born, Satan stood behind Herod [to] seek the young Child to destroy Him. If you have a personal relationship with Jesus, Satan wants to hurt Him by hurting you. It is only in looking to Jesus that you will gain a deeper understanding of the great controversy. Also, you will recognize the Source of power for your transformation to be made fit for heaven.
Jacob was called Israel (Overcomer with God) in Genesis 32:28. And, just as Jesus—the ultimate overcomer—overcame the world (John 16:33) through faithfulness to His Father, He desires for each of us to also victoriously overcome. Satan has a plan to cause our downfall. Our sworn enemy wants us to believe that we are saved while we deliberately disobey the word of the Lord. But the Spirit of God is able to cleanse and re-create your character and mine as He originally intended: His unmarred image in us! He has an affectionate new name for you; a name chosen by Him to represent your fully restored character.
“To him who overcomes . . . I will give . . . a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” Revelation 2:17