When Rachel was in severe labor the midwife said to her, “Do not fear, for now you have another son.” It came about as her soul was departing (for she died), that she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). Jacob set up a pillar over her grave; that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day. Then Israel journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the tower of flock (Magdal-Eder). Genesis 35:17-21.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God says:
You do not always get to choose what comes into your life but you can choose what you call it.
Jacob loved Rachel. But when she birthed her second son, as her soul was departing (she died), she named her son “Ben-oni,” which means “the son of my sorrow,” but Jacob gave him another name, “Benjamin,” which means “the son of the right hand.” Genesis 35:19. The right hand is the hand of blessing (remember, Jacob laid his right hand on Joseph’s son Ephraim, who was the younger, to bless him, and his left hand on Manasseh, crossing his hands from where Joseph had placed them to be blessed, although Manasseh was the firstborn, Genesis 48:13-14) and at the right hand is the place of strength and power. My Son is at My right hand. Jacob gave his son a new name defining who he was so that his life would be blessed and strong and not one of sorrow. And also the new name Benjamin became a source of blessing and strength to him and not sorrow in the time of his sorrow over Rachel’s death.
Jacob also renamed places. He named the place that I appeared to him “Beth-el,” which means house of God. It had been named “Luz” which means a hazel nut tree. And in that place I had given him a revelation of the ladder that Jesus would later refer to as a vision of who He is to you. John 1:51. Do you call where you are the “House of God?” You need to rename your world and your circumstances too. You need to see yourself like David as he sang “only goodness and lovingkindness pursue me all the days of my live and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23:6.
And Jacob named the place where he wrestled all night with My messenger and where I changed his name to Israel “Peni-el,” which means “the face of God.” Do you give special names to places where I have reveal things to you and give you hope when you were distressed and troubled? Do you see your life as filled with altars and sanctuaries to Me that you rename according to My revelation to you? Abraham did, Genesis 21:33, Genesis 22:14, Isaac did, Genesis 26:24-25, and Jacob did. And I am pleased to call Myself the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. This is My Name forever and this is My memorial to all generations.
I made all the animals but I let Adam name them even though he did not make them. You can rename things in your life from a curse to a blessing. I do not call things as they are if they are not as I want them. I call them what I want them to be and they so become. Don’t be one of those who say they call something like it is. Call those things that be not as though they are. Change your circumstances, change your life. Renew your life. Rename things in your world. Out of Benoni comes Benjamin. Out of sorrow, strength and blessing.
When Paul came to Me for a new life, I gave him a new name. He had been Saul but I renamed him “Paul.” When Jacob changed his mind to follow Me unreservedly I gave him a new name “Israel.” He changed from being a cheat to being a prince of God. When Abram decided to stop following his own ways and just keep to Mine, I named him “Abraham” and he became fruitful in his old age. And I renamed Sari as Sarah, and she too became fruitful, though she had never been before. It is the father’s right to name the child. And I call you by name.
And I can even rename people whom I have previously named. When I told Hosea to marry Gomer I was teaching the people of Israel how I had covenant with them but they were going to other gods and worshipping them. But there is no other god. So they were worshipping idols and demons. I told Hosea to name one child Lo ruchamah (no compassion); for I would have no compassion for the trouble of My people Israel because I had been utterly betrayed by them. And I told him to name the next child Lo-ami; for they were not My people since I was not their LORD. But I could not forsake My people. So in their valley of trouble I spoke to their hearts, and they responded and sang to Me there as they did in their youth and I opened the door of hope. And I renamed those children: Lo ruchamah became Rachamim (compassions) (My compassions are new every morning) and Lo ami became Ami (My people); and they said in response “You are My God (Elohai).”
And you can name yourself. John called himself the “beloved” disciple. It changed his life and took him to the foot of the cross when all the other disciples hid in fear. It made him faithful and fearless. It carried him through torture and exile and he came out unharmed. And I gave him the priceless gift of My sweet Mary as if she were his own mother.
How do you call yourself? Beloved of the Lord? Or “rejected by the Lord?” Cain, though I tried to talk with him and protect him, called himself hidden from My Face, and he went out of My presence and settled elsewhere and he and his descendants were men of violence and strife. None of them walked with Me. None of them called themselves “beloved of the Lord.”
I also give names to people from the womb that defines their lives. I told Zachariah to name his son “John” before he was conceived. I told Mary to name her son Yeshuah and I told the same to her husband Joseph. And think of Oholiab (in the tent of My Father) who worked with Moses making the beautiful furnishings of the tent of the meeting.
And I have given you a name. And when you get to Heaven you receive a beautiful white gemstone with your new name engraved on it by which I have called you. Revelation 2:17.
Jacob set up the pillar over Rachel’s grave, but I tell you that Israel moved on. Sometimes you need to accept a new name, a new description of who you are in your heart, to move on.
Why don’t you rename your sorrows and move on? And why don’t you call yourself a sanctuary of the Most High? Call yourself Beth-el—the house of God, for if you keep and treasure in Jesus’ Words in your heart we make our dwelling with you. If you have received My Son as Lord, My Holy Spirit dwells in you. You can expect to hear from Me at all times. And wherever your feet tread becomes redemption ground. Whey not proclaim that? And speak My Words over the things that are not in line with My Words in your life and watch them change.
I tell the wicked man he will change if he just changes his thoughts. And if you change your thoughts to My thoughts your hearts will change (be purified) and you will speak My Words and your lives will change.
Start renaming things in your life. Call things according to My Word. It is time for you to move on from where you are.
And do not forget to build altars in your heart to Me where special events in your life have or are taking place. Make a memorial of those in your heart. You will find the most precious memories are Words I have spoken to you right when you needed them. Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances. Proverbs 25:11.
Start making golden moments in your life. Isn’t it time you renamed a few things and people in your thoughts about them?
I love you. I have called you by Name. And you are precious in My sight. Why not call yourself that? You are precious in My sight, since you are honored and I love you.