“Called and Named”

Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-7

One of Christianity’s core beliefs revolves around creation. We believe that all that ever was, all that is, and all that ever will be, was created by God. Others may think that the physical universe came to be in a random way with starts and stops and restarts, but Christians cannot. If we believe that God is all powerful, and that he is a God of order, and that creation exists solely because of his plan, it must also be inconceivable that his hand was never in this.
The duration of his creating can be debated; was it 6 literal days, or 6 billion years? If we remember that all comes to be in God’s time, and that his time has nothing to do with our standard of measurement, it could even have been in 6 seconds. But does it really matter?
The process and order of his creating can also be debated; Genesis 1 & 2 give us two very different views of both creation and the Creator. Chapter 1 provides a view of logic, order, and design being made by a Heavenly Architect (scholars refer to this view of God as “Transcendent”, or high above), while chapter 2 shows us a gentle, personal, thoughtful but not very logical God (they call this style “Immanent”, or personal). How God came to create, though it may be interesting, is immaterial.

The point of all this is that creation isn’t for the Almighty – it is solely for you and me. Humanity is unique in the created order, and this is a place and time for us to come to know our Lord.

Read Isaiah 43:1-2

In Matthew 6:28-34, in a portion of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, we are told that while creation has great beauty and that the Lord provides for all aspects of it, we are to put our trust and hope in God. Animals don’t know Jesus, hills and plains and fields and oceans have no concept of God – only we can come to know him.
Isaiah’s words, when taken in this context, show that we alone are the redeemed, that we alone are called, we alone are guided and protected. Genesis is a book that shows just how special and unique humanity truly is. In Genesis 1:27, we discover that humanity is the only part of creation that holds the image of God, and is the only one that the Lord “breaths the Breath of Life into” (Genesis 2:7). And in Genesis 2:19-23, we see the first occurrence of the two words of today’s message – Named and Called, and they have specific meanings for us.
The word “named” is only used in identifying the birds and animals. It means that humanity has authority over the lesser part of creation. But when Eve comes on the scene, Adam “calls” her woman. “Call” implies a relationship. And this is important in our reading from Isaiah.

In verse 1, we read that God has “summoned” us by “name”. We have a relationship with him, even while he has authority over our lives. “You are mine.” he says. But verse 2, at first glance, doesn’t seem to say why he has called us. It only describes how those who come to him will be protected, and how the Lord will always be near us. He will lead us through the obstacles of life, he will save us from the floods of destructive power, and he will protect us from the fiery attacks that will come against us.
It appears that we are “called” into relationship with our Creator in order to receive his grace and mercy! Those who answer the call will receive, while those who don’t, apparently, won’t.

Read Isaiah 43:3-7

After Jacob wrestled with the Being at Peniel, his name is changed to Israel, which means “he struggles with God” (Genesis 32:22-32). The name Israel, the struggle, implies a close and intimate relationship that doesn’t always go well. When we take the name “Christian”, it implies that we are part of the Lord’s family – again, in a close relationship. In verses 3 and 4, God is telling the people that he will give others up if it means that his own, those who have come to him, can be freed to live in him. And why would he do that? Because they, his own, are “precious and honored in his sight, and because he loves us”. And it is for “Everyone who is called by my name”. The Lord wants us to know that everyone who is part of his family, everyone who will honor him, everyone who will take his name, will be glorified.

It seems pretty clear as to what the prophet’s message is – to put the things of earth aside, and to put ourselves in God! But we still need to consider what it means to be called by God, and to respond to his call on our lives.

Perhaps a more humanistic view of relationship might be a place to start. Each of us has two types of relatives – those by birth and those by marriage. The marriage type is similar to our call from God.
My wife and I met on a blind date. A mutual friend made the arrangements for us to contact each other, which we did. But then it was totally up to both of us as to where the relationship would go. With God, the call is on the lives of all people everywhere, but it is still up to each of us if we will respond.
Diane and I decided to have that first date, and we enjoyed each other’s company. We decided to continue to explore the relationship, and 7 months later, we were married. With God, our response to his call isn’t the last step, either – it is just the first. We study to learn more about him, and if we like what we discover, we decide to make the arrangement permanent. And by the way, the Lord’s desire is always that he would have a relationship with us! If it doesn’t happen, it’s because of our decision.
Diane’s and my wedding day wasn’t the end. We had a lot of growing to do, we had to work to understand each other’s desires and needs, we had to examine and reexamine our relationship, and there were a few times that it needed repairing with apologies because of selfishness. Accepting Christ as Lord and Savior isn’t the end – we need to grow, and understand, and maintain a closeness, and seek forgiveness to repair and develop the relationship.
After a good number of years together, and a good number of lessons learned, our marriage is better today than it has ever been, even though it still isn’t quite perfect. And as we study the word of God, and serve in his name, and come to know the reasons that he has called us to be part of his Body, his family, we will discover that even thought the relationship may not be perfect yet, it is still a wonderful way to live, and that it’s better than any other!

How is your relationship with the Lord? Have you heard his call? Have you responded? Have you begun spending time with him? Have you made a commitment to a lifelong relationship with him? Have you taken his name for your own? Are you discovering new things about the bond that you have with him? Is it growing stronger? Is it leading you into a greater trust and faith? Do you get discouraged when it seems as though the relationship is strained? Do you persist just the same? How much time has passed since you last had a real heartfelt conversation with him, since you gave him a life filled hug, since you told him that you loved him?

How is your relationship? Imperfect but getting better?

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; / you are mine.” says the Lord. He wants this relationship so badly that he suffered and died and rose again, just for you. Will you say “Yes, Lord. I want it too.”?