What's in a Name?

My new children's Bible study started in February. I led one last year for my then-fifth grader, and she has now been ushered into the middle school/high school study shepherded by a dear neighbor. Now it's Little Sister's turn. There is something so special about studying the Bible with kids. It never fails to give me new insight into how we are created to relate to God....before we are broken and hardened by the world. Before we are cynical. Before we are led astray by a parade of people playing devil's advocate. Before we start questioning ourselves.

The girls and I are studying from the same book being used by my women's study, called The Names of God by Ann Spangler. Did you know there are (at least) 52 different names used for God in the Bible? Names had great significance in the ancient world, and it was believed that to know a person's name was to know something about his character. The thinking goes that studying the names that God calls himself will reveal his character more fully to us.

For our first meeting, we learned the meanings of the girls' names and the story behind why their parents lovingly chose those names for them. We made plaques for their rooms featuring their names. Then we learned what I believe is one of the most accessible names of God for children: Abba Father. We learned that Jesus called God "Daddy," and we talked about the qualities of a good Daddy - he is trustworthy, he loves us dearly, he is our ultimate protector and caregiver. We learned that the Israelites were afraid to even speak the name of God because He was so holy, so out-of-this world perfect, but because of Jesus, we are invited to call him Father...Daddy.

What a personal and loving Father we have!