Day 3: God Named With His Authority

Hope for Your Marriage

God, Our Ultimate Authority

God’s power and authority is vast enough to cover all that ails our marriages. The key to accessing His power in marriage is to first understand it. This understanding must take you beyond that which is common to man today. We must look at how God used His authority to give names and the authority He gave to Adam.

As we continue to talk about creation, continue to keep in mind the key points we outlined on day one:

1. God is the ultimate authority.

2. He gets to do whatever He pleases with His authority.

3. We must submit to that authority.

The Authority to Name

Out of all the objects God created, He only specifically named six. God would call a phenomenon into existence, look at it and then name it. For example, in Genesis 1:3, “God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness he called night.” Then, throughout the rest of Genesis, He named the expanse, “the heavens,” dry land, “Earth,” the waters, “seas,” and the first being, “man.” The moment each subject was given a name, its essence was born. Thus, by naming the Earth and its hosts, God gently whispered His power and authority over all.

Upon the delivery of our beloved children, we have the power to grant access into their souls by giving each a name. What a gift it is to be able to call the names of our children. If you are a parent, think about the time and effort put into conceiving the names of your precious little ones. The same is true for Adam. I believe God carefully selected a name for him. The name is much more than some common name used to designate the first man from another man. Quite the contrary; his name binds all men together. Why else would God walk us through the story of creation in His Word? The word, “Adam,” the Hebrew word for “man,” is plainly a depiction of the who, what, when, where, why and how of the first created being. So, for Adam, there was no other name more befitting of his character than, “man.”

Adam came from the ground and there his identity lay. In keeping with Adam’s essence, in Genesis 2:15, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” This verse implies the leadership role entrusted to Adam by God. The words are softly written on the page but carry tremendous weight. Within his role, he was given the authority to name all the things of the ground. Genesis 2:20 says, “The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field.” I would have to say job well done, Adam. He gave names to his subjects that instantly established each one’s essence.  

The Naming of Woman

“This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”
Genesis 2:23

Before Adam uttered the name of Eve, he first called her, “Woman.” Woman literally means wife of man or wife-man. Eve did not have to look far to recognize her calling. She was unmistakably born to be a wife. Ladies, embrace the beauty of your calling as a wife, knowing that the true testament of your calling is the glorious day when you can fully actualize your reality as the bride of Christ. This calling was first actualized the very instant that Eve was created. Did you hear me? It is a gift from God to be called a woman. Thus, from birth, women are called to be wives (unless you are like Paul in 1 Corinthians 7).

As we have progressed through culture we have almost slapped the beauty of our identity in the face.  The grace and elegance that should be synonymous with the very existence of a woman has been replaced with power struggle in the home, vanity, greed, promiscuity and imperviousness. Ladies, be comfortable in your position as a wife-man, understanding that this does not limit your abilities. The key is to understand and embrace your primary role as wife.

Questions

·         Why do you believe God used names to carry the secret of hidden identity?

·         Do you believe that Adam understood the power of his name? Why or Why not?

·         What responsibilities are associated with the following names: wife, mother and daughter?

Next week, we will explore the beauty found in being a wife. As you follow along, look back at our previous lessons on God speaking things into existence and the beginning of God’s authority. Be reminded of what we have discussed thus far and know that we are still laying the foundation. Be blessed, dear sister.