Becoming Real
Spring 2005 | Volume 10, Issue 1
What's In a Name?
Often at the beginning of the year we make resolutions to change certain things about our circumstances or ourselves. Not surprisingly the most common resolution people make is to lose weight. Many of us would change some things about ourselves if given the opportunity yet we often feel powerless to do so. What must happen in order for us to change? As I think about my own life I see several factors at work, including colleagues who believe in me, even when there isn't much data to suggest they should, and friends who enjoy me and allow me to enjoy them.
There is another factor that stands out, and that is the way God has used circumstances and events as mirrors so that I could see myself more clearly. There is an example of this in Jacob's story as well, as it's told in the Old Testament1. Jacob was the second-born of twins and he came out of the womb grasping Esau's heel. For that reason he was named Jacob, which literally means, "he grasps the heel," and figuratively means "he deceives."
This sets the stage for Jacob's story and the way God exposes his sin yet draws Jacob to himself at the same time. Several events in Jacob's life are significant. He manipulated Esau out of his birthright. With Rebekah's help he deceived his father and got the blessing intended for Esau. In response to this deceit Esau said, "Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me these two times" (Gen. 27:36). For the first time the figurative meaning of Jacob's name was applied to him. Esau called him The Cheater.
Esau made plans to kill Jacob as soon as their father died. Rebekah heard of this and helped Jacob to escape, sending him to live with her brother, Laban. Jacob continued with his conniving ways, engineering outcomes to get the best of Laban's flocks. Years later when he was returning to his homeland Jacob heard that Esau was on his way to meet him, and he offered a large gift hoping to appease Esau.
Yet God had other plans for Jacob and he wanted to set him free from managing life on his terms in order to guarantee a good outcome. How did God do this with Jacob? He did this by using events as mirrors to show Jacob the truth about himself, in all his cunning and deceit. Perhaps the first mirror came during his deception of his father. How uncomfortable must it have been to wear a costume and wonder if Isaac was buying this, and then to have Isaac ask him his name? He answered "Esau," but I wonder if that was the first time God whispered to him, "You're living like a Jacob."
The second mirror was when Jacob was fleeing and met Rachel, Laban's daughter. As far as we know from the written text he did not tell her his name, but who can blame him? It gets in the way of a good introduction. "Hey, good lookin', I'm Cheater. What's your name?"
A third mirror was Laban himself. In Laban Jacob met his match. He turned out to be one of the all-time greats at cheating. Jacob made a deal to work for Laban for seven years in exchange for the hand of Rachel in marriage. Laban agreed to this but on the wedding night Jacob's bride turned out to be Leah. It sounds like a bad episode of The Bachelor. This was a deception similar to the one Jacob and Rebekah pulled on Isaac.
The fourth mirror came when God told Jacob to return to his homeland. It was time to leave Laban's household, time to face the music with Esau. Jacob prayed but he also schemed, and during the night he wrestled with God in the form of a man. God touched Jacob's hip and he was now a broken man, but Jacob refused to let go until God blessed him. And then God asked Jacob the question he'd avoided all his life: "What is your name?" For the first time in the written account Jacob spoke his name. "Jacob," he replied. "The Deceiver." No more role-playing. No more avoiding the truth. Like the Prodigal Son Jacob had to face himself so that he could come to God. After that he walked with a limp, a physical reminder of a deeper brokenness. And God gave Jacob a new name, Israel, "because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."
What would your answer be if God gently asked your name? Would it be Complainer? Manipulator? Angry One? Plays-it-Safe?
It's reassuring to me that God didn't say to Jacob, "I finally got you to admit who you are, you Deceiver." Instead he gave him a new name, Israel, "because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." Revelation 2:17 tells us that followers of Christ will also be given a new name. That will take place in heaven, but I believe He is in the process even now of giving us our new names as we face our false selves and grow into our true selves; the process of sanctification.
One of my favorite scenes in the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy comes at the end of the 2nd movie. Frodo and Sam have just come through another battle against all odds, and Sam is praising Frodo. Frodo responds, "the truth is ol' Frodo wouldn't have gotten far without Sam … Sam Wise the Brave." And right before our eyes Sam is transformed. He stands a little taller, straighter, after that.
Just as with Jacob and the fictional tale of Frodo and Sam, our life story sets the stage for us to see and to change. As you look into your mirror and allow yourself to see, to change, what do you hear in your name? What will your new name be? Courageous? Lion-hearted? May this New Year bring all of us closer to our new names.
1For more on the Jacob story and the concept of God using events in our lives as mirrors, please see Living the Story by R. Paul Stevens and Michael Green, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, MI, 2003, pp. 52-54.
A Word from the Publisher
To find and know Living Truth in the innermost being, that is, to be strengthened in the inner man, is to be given living things from Him personally while in pursuit of following Him. Three things at least are required: to listen deeply, to surrender without regard to self no matter how long or deep the struggle, and to obey without delay wherever He may lead. After all, He and He alone is Life.
—Bruce Edstrom
Book Review: Hope Rising by Kim Meeder1
Book Review by Hana Malick and Dianne L. Taylor, M.A., LPC
A client of mine recently introduced me to this miracle of a book, Hope Rising. I brought the book home with the intention of getting right into it, but my daughter beat me to it and had me further intrigued to begin this journey of courage, faith, compassion, and hope. After reading the book, my daughter and I talked about it in more detail and it is from this that we bring you some thoughts.
First of all, the book deals with reality—real pain, real need, and real rescue. The author, Kim Meeder, expertly weaves these themes into short stories relating both to her passion for saving horses who have been abused and how this has become a means of saving children's damaged hearts and souls as well. All of this passion connects directly to Mrs. Meeder's own story which is touched on in the book and her own hope which rests in God and His unique ways of meeting all of us whether in the unexpected "whirlwinds" ("Eli's Whirlwind", pg. 18) or through the nuzzle of a horse's lips to the scared face of an injured child ("Chosen One", pg. Pg. 54). The stories are all the more poignant because they are true, as true as the God who orchestrates the visits of unique children to the Meeder's "ranch of rescued dreams." Mrs. Meeder's use of imagery is superb and her words will make you weep, rejoice, and yes—find hope in a God that continuously works on our behalf in this broken world.
This is an excellent book for reading out loud in a family setting although I would caution that a grownup read ahead as some of the stories may be difficult for a very young audience. This is a great way to introduce and discuss the concept of the reality of pain and the reality of hope co-existing.
1Hope Rising, by Kim Meeder, Multnomah Publishers, 2003 — available in paperback Winner of the Jefferson Award for Public Service
About Becoming Real
Becoming Real is posted at www.cbc-dallas.com four times a year, normally in February, May, August, & November. If you would like to be notified via email when a new issue is posted, you may subscribe by going to the "Newsletter" page on our website and following the instructions there. For more information about Becoming Real you may contact Chuck Roberts at 214-987-1776 x29.
Bruce Edstrom, Publisher
Chuck Roberts, Editor
Hana Malick, Type, Layout, and Design (of print version)
CBC Announcements
- Shepherd's Heart Training Group, a CBC training group, is offered throughout the year. Two groups are available. For more information contact 214-987-1776.
- CBC General Issues Therapy Groups:
- Men's Group-Monday 6-7:30 p. m.
- Men's Group-Friday 12:00-1:30 p.m.
For more information about any of the services offered by CBC please contact us at 214-987-1776 or visit us on the web at www.cbc-dallas.com