In perhaps one of the most famous lines of one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays, Juliet asks, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” It was their names that got in the way . . . she a Capulet, Romeo a Montague . . . two warring families . . . and thus their love for one another was hindered by a name. Maybe the name isn’t so important . . . it is about the person . . . call it a rose . . . call it a frying pan . . . its still as fragrant. But oh, when that name is spoken of God . . . how amazing is that?

What’s got me thinking about being called by name is the opening verse of Numbers. The Lord speaks to Moses and commands him to take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel. They were to be counted by family and according to the number of males who were twenty years and older — counting all the men who were able to go to war. And the count is taken . . . all the tribes except the tribe of the priesthood, Levi . . . and the number of men, 20 years and older, is 603,500. So . . . do some math . . . 600,000 plus men over 20 . . . add a factor for women and children . . . add the Levites . . . and that number goes way up . . . apparently 2.4 million is not an uncommon figure for commentators to arrive at.

Seventy-five people of the family of Jacob came down to Egypt some 400+ years earlier . . . now they were a nation of 2.4 million. The “family” had grown . . . they were now a nation. And what captured my imagination this morning is that fact that God looked down into this sea of humanity . . . He asked Moses to take a headcount . . . told Moses he would need some help . . . and then God gives Moses the names of a man from each tribe who was to assist him in the census . . . and then, it says, “Moses and Aaron took these men who had been mentioned by name.”

God mentioned them by name . . . God tells Moses, by name, who he is to enlist . . . God identifies them individually with the “handle” they had been given by their parents. You can read the list of names in verse 5 through 15 . . . God knows who He wants . . . and what they answer to. God knew Moses’ name that first time Moses was on holy ground in front of the burning bush. Much later, in Acts 9, Jesus knows the name of the one he wants to take the gospel to the Gentiles and calls out, “Saul, Saul why are you persecuting me?” Sure, these men in Numbers were the leaders of their tribes, but I don’t think that’s why God knew their names. No, God already knew they names and raised them up to be leaders. That He knew their names . . . and called them by name . . . amazes me . . . because I think it has application to me.

It is so easy to feel lost in the crowd . . . so easy to think we’re nobodies who really haven’t accomplished much of anything . . . that we are “no names” in a world that doesn’t have much time for “no names.” But to think of our name being on the lips of God . . . what does that do? To be reminded that the Son of God, as the Great Shepherd, has gathered to Himself a flock and that “the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out” (John 10:3) . . . to consider afresh Jesus’ words, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep” (John 10:14). Known by name by the God of Creation . . . called by name to respond to His amazing grace . . . recorded by name in the Lamb’s Book of Life . . . an inheritance reserved by name in heaven for us . . . the Son of God at that right hand of the Father every making intercession for us . . . by name.

As I consider this, how can I feel anonymous? How can I feel like one of the invisible when I know that I am mentioned by name by the Ruler of Heaven and Earth? As the songwriter has said, “I have a Maker; He formed my heart; Before even time began; My life was in his hands. I have a Father; He calls me His own; He’ll never leave me; No matter where I go. He knows my name; He knows my every thought; He sees each tear that falls; And He hears me when I call.” (take a bit of worship time and click here to check it on YouTube).

He calls my by name . . . and by His grace and through the blood of Jesus I know Him by name too and I have been given wonderful access to the throne of grace whereby I can call upon that Name, as well. How cool is it to be mentioned by name? . . . way cool!