What is Your Name?

"Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, "What is your name, so that when your words come to pass, we may honor you?" But the angel of the LORD said to him, "Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?"" (Judges 13:17–18 NAS95)

Observation:  With the Angel of the Lord, it was a momentous thing to ask "What is your name?"  For this was no ordinary angel that met Manoah and his wife with the message of a miraculous birth and a coming deliverer in Israel.  No, this was the one whose name was Wonderful; Wonder Counselor that is... Prince of Peace, Mighty God, and Everlasting Father.  This was the one who would ultimately be born as the Ultimate Deliverer in Israel.  The one who would ascend into Heaven as our Risen Lord, just as He ascended in smoke that day when Monoah offered a burnt offering unto the Lord.  

How my heart thrills to ask His name!  Jacob asked His name and He was blessed:

Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob's thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. Then he said, "Let me go, for the dawn is breaking." But he said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me..." So he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." He said, "Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed." Then Jacob asked him and said, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And he blessed him there.  (Genesis 32:24-29 NAS95S)

Not only was Jacob blessed when He inquired of God's name, but he received a new name.  I was no longer Jacob, but Israel... meaning... you have striven with God and with men and prevailed.

Now the reason we can prevail with men is that we have first prevailed with God.  The reason we can prevail with men is that we wrestle with Him who is God, and is man.  With Christ.  With the one who compels us to ask:  "What is Your name?"

Application:  O let us ask.  Let us continually pray:  "What is Your name?"  Let this be the quest of my heart and yours.  Let us be are lifelong pursuit.  For His is The Name that never grows old.  Like the mercies of the Lord, the wonders of His Name are new every morning.  Like the steadfast love of the Lord that never ceases, The Name of Jesus is love personified...  Love that lives... and love that intercedes for us just now.  O to know this Name.  O to be filled with the Name!  O to be defined by it.  To receive a new name from the Name that alone is Savior:

"To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.'" (Revelation 2:17 NAS95)

Prayer:  Lord I come today seeking a new name.  I come asking: "What is Your Name?"  For only as I know You, may I be like You.  Only as You reveal Your name to me, my I be like Thee.  What is Your Name, Jesus?  What are Your ways?  And what is Your will?

The words of an old come to my mind just now Jesus, and I offer them up as burnt offering so to speak...  a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving:

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way! 

Thou art the potter, I am the clay. 

Mold me and make me after thy will, 

while I am waiting, yielded and still. 

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way! 

Search me and try me, Savior today! 

Wash me just now, Lord, wash me just now, 

as in thy presence humbly I bow. 

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way! 

Wounded and weary, help me I pray! 

Power, all power, surely is thine! 

Touch me and heal me, Savior divine! 

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way! 

Hold o'er my being absolute sway. 

Fill with thy Spirit till all shall see 

Christ only, always, living in me!