Since 2014, there has been a growing problem for those named Alexa. That’s thanks to Amazon’s artificial intelligent voice, who is also named Alexa. People with the name Alexa are often asked to have a nickname because the use of their birth-given name causes too many interruptions in friends’ houses and in business meetings where Amazon is listening for a command starting with Alexa. This name has now begun to be dropped from the name list that parents are using to select names for their children. Yeah, Alexa is no longer on that list.

It got me thinking about God’s name. It was Moses who asked, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?” God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.”(Exodus 3:13-15)

Common use of God’s name has changed. It is often found in our culture as an adjectival expression, one of which is shortened to ‘OMG’ in many texts and in social media posts today. It’s attached to cursing in much of contemporary art. And beyond this being a breaking of the commandment and disrespectful, I fear it has had some unintended consequences among us all.

God’s identity has been blurred into the landscape of all the other gods of this world and authorities. His name, instead of being the first used, is often the last one to be called upon and only out of a last resort plea for help. His name has disappeared from our tables before we eat. His name is talked around and not about in social, political, and work environments.

Perhaps the worst consequence, as unintended as it may be, is that we now find ourselves stumbling around in a world of darkness with more problems than solutions and more questions than answers. And so we have found ourselves again where God wants His name back.

“What is this?” asks the LORD. “Why are my people enslaved again? Those who rule them shout in exultation. My name is blasphemed all day long. But I will reveal my name to my people, and they will come to know its power. Then at last they will recognize that I am the one who speaks to them.” (Isaiah 52:5-6)

And when the good news of that first Christmas was announced, God gave the name that is to be above all other names. Mary will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. And it is that name that has all power and authority in heaven and on earth. And He is the saving one, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Light of Heaven, the Holy One, and the Eternal One.

You and I can call him Jesus our Savior. With His name, we have forgiveness, healing, light, and new life.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, would You help us to, once again, respect and know Your name as it is meant to be used? A name that we can call out to in times of trouble when we need help or salvation. Help us to show the proper respect to You in the proper use of Your name.

Help that to be an example to a culture that has lost and often misuses Your name. That we again may show Your name to be a beautiful name, a name upon which rests our salvation.

We pray all of these things in the strong and the mighty, in the powerful and the authoritative name of Your son, Jesus. Amen.