… past sins don’t identify you
The enemy calls us cruel names and identifies us by our sins and weaknesses, while God calls us by our redeemed and esteemed self. When we hear names like Rahab or Thomas, do we call them “Rahab the Prostitute” or “Doubting Thomas”? Let’s look into Scripture and see what God thinks of their names and ours. Please join us as I explore the good names God calls us.
We might assume that since the New Testament Scriptures call Rahab a prostitute, then that is all God sees, but this is the wrong meaning of her name. Scriptures need to differentiate her from the other “Rahab” listed in the Old Testament (Isaiah, Job and Psalms.) The other Rahab represents arrogance and cruelty. For example, look at Psalm 89:10, “You have broken Rahab in pieces like one of the slain. You have scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.” This is a cruel Rahab.
But the Hebrew meaning of Rahab (being the woman introduced in the book of Joshua) means “spacious” or “broad place” which fits the home she used to protect the spies. This Rahab is a gracious and brave one. She is listed in both Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:25 as a victor, one who acted upon a powerful faith. Rahab’s faith was amazing, because it was based upon the God of an enemy nation and a God she had never worshipped. Yet she acted upon that faith by saving the lives of two Hebrew spies and entrusting herself to these men and the God they followed. God saved her life and the lives of her family, because she trusted Him.
The ruler of Jericho could have killed her if he learned she helped the spies. Yet she dared to betray her king, so she could honor the King of Kings instead. God more than saved her life. He allowed her to convert to the Jewish faith and marry an Israelite. God allowed her to join the lineage of Jesus, Matt.1:5 “Salmon became the father of Boaz by Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed by Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse,” and we know Jesse is father of King David, the many times great-grandfather of Jesus (in his human form.) So while Scriptures admit Rahab was a prostitute, we also see that she was honored and esteemed for her faith.
Scriptures do admit that Thomas did not see Jesus when he arose, and in disbelief he said in John 20:25b, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” For this one sentence, many people label him “Doubting Thomas.” But even before he said this, Thomas also spoke about the threats against Jesus’ life. Instead of abandoning Jesus, Thomas pledged his life to Jesus in John 11:16, “Then let us go and die with him.” Thomas was loyal and brave. After he saw Jesus, Thomas said, “My Lord and my God.” He pledged his ultimate allegiance. He lived by what he had promised to Jesus. Church history confirms that he went to India and preached the Gospel of Christ. He led many Indians to Christ, but an angry Hindu murdered him. Today the churches he first established still exist so that many strong Christians still live in India.
How often do people call us names based upon our former sins? Perhaps we call ourselves by these names too. But God says, “As far as the east is from the west, he has removed our transgression from us,” Psalm 103:12. God says he will give us a new name (Rev. 3:12, 2:12-17.) God promised this to Israel too in Isaiah 62:2b “You will be called by a new name.” In verse four of the same chapter God promises Israel they will not be called deserted or desolate.
While Scriptures used the title “prostitute” to differentiate the faithful Rahab from the evil one in other verses, Scriptures do not point to Rahab’s past as limiting her. She is honored for her strong faith. That is why she shows up in the faith chapters of Hebrews and James. God wants us to see her faith, not her past sins.
And the last words recorded about Thomas are about his faith in Christ, not his doubt. The world looks at the past sins and weaknesses we suffered. But God wants us to look at the great things he has accomplished in us and will accomplish in us. I respect Paul’s humility and honesty when he said in 2 Cor.1:8b-9a “We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die.” Yet in his humility, he rejoices in God’s help (vs. 9b-10) “But as a result we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again.” The world laughs at us when we are crushed and overwhelmed, as Paul was. But we can place our hope in Christ, and we will find his peace to face our troubles. We will be victorious. God will see our victory and reward us (Rev. 21:7, “All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.”.)
Our Christian friends will also see our hard work, and they will honor us. So we must not let ourselves be identified by our past sins. If you have embraced this lie and call yourself by any name that relates to your failures or past weaknesses, reject that. Find a new name for yourself and a new title. Don’t claim your weaknesses. For example, sometimes I get a bit tired, but I have learned to not call myself lazy. Instead I remind myself, “I have more than enough energy,” and then I do as much as I can reasonably do and stop if I run out of energy. That means I have done as much as God wanted me to do. I have to admit to myself that God wanted me to do less work that day. My energy was not at fault; it was enough for what God wanted me to do (not necessarily what I wanted to do.) God limited my energy so I would slow down for his purpose, instead of doing all the projects I wanted to accomplish.
I am learning to be careful with my words. If I say, “I am so clumsy,” I begin to think of myself as a clumsy person. I am likely to live up to (or live down to) anything bad I say about myself, and I do not want to limit what God can do in me. I also do not want to claim more than God wants to give to me. I want to be content with what God has given me. And I want to be content with the names God gave to me.
In one of my earliest posts, I spoke about the meaning of my full name, Deborah. If you get a chance, read that post. But today I speak of my name in the general sense, knowing God delights in me, and I pray you realize God rejoices in you too. You are his delight. Please never accept being called anything that reminds you of your past weaknesses or sins. Call yourself good names, and seek to live up to those godly names, because they are God’s goals for your life too. He wants the best for you. Remember “Rahab the Faithful” and “Loyal Thomas.” I pray we have encouraged you with today’s post!