Calling My Name Twice

Has your heart ever been seized by someone calling out your name twice? You know something is amiss. There is something of great importance that needs to be communicated. You wonder if you did something terribly wrong, but can’t imagine what in the moment. Your attention has been grabbed. Your listening skills are honed in. You can’t fathom not answering.

In a recent Bible study, I was reminded of the times in Scripture that someone’s name is called out twice for great emphasis. And, in looking at the situations, you find that something very important is forthcoming.

Genesis 22:11-13 (NIV) says, “But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, ‘Abraham! Abraham!’ ‘Here I am,’ he replied. ‘Do not lay a hand on the boy,’ he said. ‘Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.’ Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.”

The interruption of a would-be slaying was vastly important. The provision of a substitute was vastly important. The compassion and salvation of the Lord was vastly important. And Abraham’s faith and obedience were vastly important. No wonder Abraham’s name was called out twice.

When you look at other similar instances in Scripture, you find “Jacob, Jacob” (Genesis 46:1-4); “Moses, Moses” (Exodus 3:1-10); “Lord, Almighty” (1 Samuel 3:1-10); “Simon, Simon” (Luke 22:31-32); “Saul, Saul” (Acts 9:1-6); and “God, God” (Matthew 27:46). Each situation depicts something important to be communicated, something amiss, something needing attention, something demanding an answer, something requiring excellent listening skills.

I am reminded to eliminate the clutter on my to-do list and the screen-noise in my life, so that when God calls my name, I am awake and ready to respond. Because I have been quiet. Because I have been ready. Because I have been hopeful. Because I can hear better when my gaze is set on Christ alone.

In the stillness, the blank canvas of my heart anticipates that a call from God will surely come. I definitely don’t want to miss it.