The Significance of a Name

And the son of Jonathan was Meribbal; and Meribbal begat Micah. 1 Chronicles 8:34

When we read the Bible, often the tendency is to skip over a list of names such as the ones found in today’s Scripture or a long genealogy chart.  Behind every name though, is a life story!  For example, what if the man in today’s Scripture, Meribbal, lived in contemporary times and grew up on the west coast of the U.S.A., studied law, was married, had two children, enjoyed fishing, volunteered with the Salvation Army, and was a good Christian man as well?  There would be a lot of significance to that name.  Peoples’ names often evoke various images in our minds.  If you hear the name Warren Buffet, Colonel Sanders, or even Michael Jordan an image undoubtedly pops into your mind.  You probably think wealth, good food, and athleticism.  Let us not underestimate the significance of names in the Bible.  The Lord impressed upon me once when reading a long list of names in the Bible that if my name or the name of a loved one were in a genealogical chart I would want it to be read with care and not glossed over.  Let us remember the words of Second Timothy 3:16 that “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”  There is no insignificant detail or name in the Bible just as nothing God creates is insignificant.