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What’s in a name?

Words of Faith Final

What’s in a name?

Words of Faith 6-16-2020

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2020

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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Numbers 13

    The Lord said to Moses, [2] "Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders."

    [3] So at the Lord's command Moses sent them out from the Desert of Paran. All of them were leaders of the Israelites. [4] These are their names: from the tribe of Reuben, Shammua son of Zaccur; [5] from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat son of Hori; [6] from the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh; [7] from the tribe of Issachar, Igal son of Joseph; [8] from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Nun; [9] from the tribe of Benjamin, Palti son of Raphu; [10] from the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel son of Sodi; [11] from the tribe of Manasseh (a tribe of Joseph), Gaddi son of Susi; [12] from the tribe of Dan, Ammiel son of Gemalli; [13] from the tribe of Asher, Sethur son of Michael; [14] from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi son of Vophsi; [15] from the tribe of Gad, Geuel son of Maki. [16] These are the names of the men Moses sent to explore the land. (Moses gave Hoshea son of Nun the name Joshua.)

 

      It was time to take a look into the land!  The tribes of Israel reached the Desert of Paran south of the Promised Land.  Here they camped for a long time, probably in the great oasis of Kadesh. 

      Moses instructed each tribe to supply a spy to explore the land of Canaan. Each of these leaders is listed with his tribal affiliation. Caleb was the representative of Judah, and Hoshea was chosen from Ephraim.  There is no explanation, but Moses changed the name of Hoshea ("salvation") to Joshua, which means "Yahweh is salvation.”

     It may not seem like a big change, but if someone changed your name even slightly, there must be a reason.  We don't know the reason for sure. Still, it is interesting to observe the slight difference between the name that means “salvation” and one that means "God is salvation."   At the very least, it seems to say that salvation is not in oneself-- it is only in the Lord.  It is a small difference, with a huge meaning.

        It may have been necessary for the Lord to remind Joshua that his salvation was not within himself or something he could grasp.  Salvation is found only in utter dependence upon the Lord.  The Lord is salvation.  This would be the case again and again for the people of Israel.  Only in depending upon the Lord would they find victory and safety.

        We humans need to be reminded somewhat regularly that our salvation is not in ourselves.  Salvation and wholeness are not something we can earn or deserve or grasp by our strength. Wholeness is not something found by looking within ourselves or becoming more self-aware.

        Salvation is a free gift of grace.  We do not find salvation by looking inward or trying outward.  We find salvation only as a gift from God, for which we can only give thanks.  As Paul put it, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephes. 2:8-9).

       Are you naming the Lord God as Your salvation?  Are you finding victory and hope only in Him?  Before the journey can continue, this must be settled.  We will not find our way into His promises unless we affirm the grace of God.

 

         Lord, I surrender to You.  You are the source of my salvation.  You are my only hope for victory.  I give thanks for Your grace.  I rejoice in Your victories already won.  I celebrate Your mercy.  In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2004, 2020

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)       

2820 Business Center Blvd.

Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.