the gift of a name

Do not say 'It is morning,' and dismiss it with a name of yesterday. See it for the first time as a newborn child that has no name. ~Rabindranath Tagore

God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning -- the first day. Genesis 1:5 (NIV)

The story of creation is one which most people know, even those who don't believe in it. It's one of the first lessons that a new believer learns, and one of the few sections of the Bible that most people quote (aside from John 3:16). It is so easy to simply skim over the entire first chapter of the Bible: surely you've heard or read Genesis 1 several times before. But the Bible should never be something we should read for the sake of reading, nor skim over. The Bible is intended to help us learn, understand and change.

Knowing this, let us take another look at our verse for this week. This is the first record in the history of creation where God verbally provides a name for a piece of His creation. What does this mean? Why does He not only separate the light from the darkness but also provide them each with distinct names? I have heard it said that there are in fact two different kinds of light mentioned in Genesis: physical and spiritual. However, as I do not have any understanding of that myself, I do not want to pursue that speculation at this time.
Why do you think God chose to name individual parts of creation? What does it mean to give a name to something? Please respond in the comments.

There are a few reasons for naming something you have created. One is like designing the cover of a book -- it helps to define a little about what is inside without the reader needing to actually reading. In other words, a name helps us understand a little of creation without needing to understand all of it. Another is related to a piece of advice I have heard for children growing up on farms: never name the farm animals. The reason for this advice is simple: once you have given something a name, you become much more attached to it and its well-being. I think both of these views can be a part of God's reason for naming His creation. I also believe it is an excellent emphasis of His authority over what He created.

So, why do you think God chose to name His creation? I believe the answer you find will continue to help you understand the character of God -- and how He wants you to have an intimate relationship with Him. I am certain there are several reasons - including some which none of us will ever understand - so I will start with a few that I have noticed.
God intentionally chose to provide a name to His creation. He knows that such an action creates a bond or relationship between the "namer" and what is being named. God actively decided to create, care about, and take care of His creation. Genesis 1:3 describes when God created light, Genesis 1:5 describes when God cared about the light, and the rest of the history of light is God taking care of the light He created. God is still taking care of light to this day!
What does this tell us? First, that God is intentional in His actions. Second, that God is active in pursuing His relationships with His creation. Finally, this tells us that God is actively interacting with His creation to this day.

This has a lot of implications for us as believers. It can help us remember that God will never be absent in this world, even though it may seem as if all is falling to pieces. We can certainly be reminded of how much God cares for us as individuals: He gave us each a name, too! God cares about our well-being and has far greater knowledge of what that really means. God also wants to be in a relationship with us as individuals. We are more deeply loved by God than we can ever hope to realize, because the depth of His care for us goes infinitely beyond our comprehension! How great is that?!

What can we do with this deepened knowledge of God's character and relationship with His creation?
Well, we can stop worrying about being perfect in everything -- we never have been and never will be. God's loving care goes beyond our imperfections to help us grow to the greatest well-being He has planned for us.
Going along with that: God made everything, so that means He is in control. No matter how busy or pressured or stressed we feel, it's not up to us!
God wants us to actively pursue Him in an intimate and personal relationship. He doesn't want us to wait for Him to act in our life, but rather to have us constantly looking for His guidance and seeking His presence. We don't need to wait for perfection in order to come into the presence of God: Jesus already took care of that!

How do you think this verse can impact your life? How can the knowledge of the depth of God's love change your relationship with Him and those around you? What else has God shown you through this verse? Please share in the comments.

Remember as you go: God created you with a purpose, and intentionally named you so that He might actively pursue a deep and intimate relationship with you. You are more valuable than you can ever imagine! May you rest today and always in the peace and strength of the love of God.