God rescues His people for the sake of His great name, but what exactly is His name? When God refers to Himself, He is “I am.” When we refer to Him we are to call Him “He is,” a phrase which translated into English is Yahweh, Jehovah, or, more commonly, the Lord. Much has been written about this name, but I think author J. Douma beautifully summarizes that God’s name means, “I exist as Savior and Liberator, I make real what I say, I do what I have promised.”
When God promised to send a Savior (Genesis 3:15) through Abraham’s line (12:2-3), nothing and no one would get in His way. God does what He says He will do. And despite the rebellion and sin of Abraham’s descendants, God rescued them for His name’s sake.
Do you live up to your namesake? My name, Kevin, means kind and gentle. Sometimes I am a Kevin, and sometimes I’m not. God has saved you for His name’s sake, not because He is vain and egotistical but because He can’t help it. He is your Savior. When you fail to live up to your namesake, rest in the knowledge that “He Is.”