My family used to call me Turkey because my birthday was close to Thanksgiving. Once, I met a man named Texas who was from New York City; his family was traveling in Texas when he was born. Then there was the kid nicknamed Piojo because he once had lice.
Slim, Lefty, Lucky, Red, Moose, and so many more are all examples of how we name people based on some feature of who they are.
Have you ever met someone named Ben-Oni?
Rachel's death is a heartbreaking and agonizing scene in Genesis 35. As she dies giving birth, she names her son Ben-Oni. That name means "son of my sorrow" or "son of my affliction." But Jacob renamed the child Benjamin, which means "son of the right hand." That was a name associated with strength, honor, and favor.
Some scholars suggest that Jacob changed the name because he couldn't bear the constant reminder of Rachel's suffering and death. That's certainly possible. But there's another idea worth reflecting on. Jacob knew personally what it was like to live with a name that carried baggage.
His own name meant "heel-grabber" or "deceiver." For years, he lived into that identity until God renamed him Israel (Genesis 32:28). Maybe Jacob didn't want his youngest son to grow up reflecting his family's grief. Maybe he wanted him to grow into hope instead.
Words shape us, and labels stick. Whoever wrote "words will never hurt me" was lying. Sometimes, we assign people identities based on their worst moment, biggest mistake, or deepest wound. We call them addict, failure, difficult, divorced, or disappointment. But God gives people new names and new futures.
And following Christ means joining that work. We become people who speak life instead of death and grace instead of shame. So, what name are you helping others live into today?
Stay blessed...john
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