In order to really get a handle on this we have to know what the name meant to people in that day and time. A person’s name was given to them to reveal a person’s character. Methuselah’s name meant Judgement will come or When he is dead it shall be sent. Methuselah was Noah’s Grandfather and he was Enoch’s son. If you do the math, Methuselah lived 969 years and he died the year of the flood. The Biblical flood was God’s judgment on mankind for the rampant sin that had become commonplace. Another cool math fact: Adam was still alive when Noah was born. So if we wonder why or how all these stories can be accurate, they were told firsthand for hundreds of years.
Another telling tame was Abraham’s name which God changed from Abram to Abraham. Abram means exalted father. Abraham contains the added meaning of multitude to the name. God had promised Abraham he would be the father of so many that they would be numbered as the stars or grains of sand. He not only fathered the Israelites but also most of the Arab nations through Ishmael.
Jacob’s name meant supplanter. He supplanted or took the place of his brother Esau who was older than him. Although they were twins Jacob was the younger and he made a deal with Esau for his birthright. He even managed to fool his father into giving him the firstborn blessing.
Later God changed his name to Israel, which means struggles with God. this happened after Jacob wrestled with the angel of the Lord one night. He was wrestling in order to keep God with him and be blessed by Him.
Ruth’s name means friend. Ruth very much exhibited her character as a friend to Naomi through her faithfulness. Ruth was the grandmother of king David, a man after God’s own heart. Jesus‘s name means salvation. His character was definitely exhibiting what it means to provide salvation through the sacrifice of his own life for ours. God definitely puts credence on names. Names are important.
When people were talking about a name they were talking about the character of the person. Jesus said in John 14: 13-14 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
So what does it mean if we are to pray in the name or character when we pray in HIS name? Whatever we ask in HIS, or Jesus's name shall be done could mean whatever we ask in his character, it shall be done. Does that change what we are asking? What would Jesus do is definitely something we should consider as we go to pray with the confidence that it shall be done.
When Jesus was praying in the garden of Gethsemane he prayed Matthew 26: 39 Going a little further, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” So if in Jesus' character we pray for something to be done even believing it is in the character of God, we have to be of the understanding that nevertheless, Thy will be done needs to be part of that prayer. Our absolute trust in God will see answers that follow God‘s character. We can have full confidence that God will answer when we pray in His character or name.
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