What's in a name?

Jdg 10:1 And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim. 

Jdg 10:2 And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.

Which Abimelech is this who died? Abimelech means my father is king.

Jdg 8:30 And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives.
Jdg 8:31 And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.

Gideon had 70 sons and Abimelech was born from his concubine. He became the seventh judge of Israel and ruled for three years. He killed his seventy brothers. He was an ungodly ambitious ruler.

Now who is Tola? Tola means worm. He was a judge after Abimelech who ruled for twenty three years.

Puah was the father of Tola. Puah means splendid, so splended was father of worm.

Puah's father was Dodo. Dodo means "his beloved". (Not what we would have expected) He was from the tribe of Issachar, a man of Bethlehem, father of Elhanan who was one of David's 30 captains.

As Christians we may be called fools and Dodos by the world, but God has a name for us "His beloved."

Tola, the worm dwelt in Shamir, meaning a point or thorn and there he was buried. The people without God are as a worm dwelling in a cursed land.

What's my point? Well lets try this? Jesus took our curses to the cross.

Psa 22:6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

God the father called him "my beloved Son."

Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.


Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 
Php 2:9  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 
Php 2:10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 
Php 2:11  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

No matter what people call us, if we are in Christ Jesus we are seen as the beloved children of God. Now let us behave as his beloved as holy people, bringing honor to His name.