“How can it be her? Why should his mother name him? I am his father.
I’ll do it!”
Don’t get so upset. Your wife is equally fit
to name the baby. He’s yours both.
“I am the man of the house; the head of this family. It is my duty, my
right, and I am not about to cede that to any woman. Not even his mother.”
Calm down. Calm down. It’s like you don’t know
the history of child naming...
“Of course I do. That’s why I won’t allow what has been the preserve
of the man of the house to be swept aside by so called modernity.”
Actually you need to know the bible history as
well; not only your family and tribe’s history. Now Adam knew
Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have gotten a
man with the help of the LORD." Gen 4:1 (ESV). So you see the first child ever born in this world was named by a
woman: his own mother.
“What? I thought it is the man that named all things? Does God expect
this? Did she do this in disobedience? Maybe this is why Cain did so badly.”
Naming was first done by God (Gen
1: 5, 8, 10). When He incorporated man into His fold and
made Him a partner, naming was now done by man who named every animal and the woman (Gen 2:19, 23; 3:30). Should it be strange therefore that when the man incorporated the
woman (his wife) as a real partner he lets her do the naming? He simply is
following God here.
“Wait, wait, wait. Where else did a woman name the child? Does God
sanction it?”
You mean you don’t know? It is with God’s full
consent women name their children. And the angel
of the LORD said to her, "Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son.
You shall call his name Ishmael...” Gen 16:11(ESV). It was the angel
of God that asked Hagar to name Abram’s son...
“He was a burden to the world, not a covenant child. Give me a good
example.”
Hard to convince, are you? Weren’t the sons of
Jacob covenant children? Didn’t they do well in God’s eyes? The first 11 were
named by their mothers. Except for Benjamin Jacob named none of his sons. And
just before you protest the women were quarrelling, consider Samuel. And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and
she called his name Samuel, for she said, "I have asked for him from the
LORD." 1Sam 1:20(ESV). He did very well in God’s eyes. Oh, by the way Moses was so named by a
woman who wasn’t even his mother; or an Israelite for that matter. When the child grew older... Pharaoh's daughter...
named him Moses, "Because," she said, "I drew him out of the
water." Ex 2:10(ESV) And you know the testimony of God concerning him.
“So it is the woman’s prerogative to name her child, eh?”
Big grammar! I don’t say it must be the woman.
But we must recognise they have equal covenant rights. This should never become
a quarrel between you. And you
husbands, giving honour to the woman ... who has an equal part in the heritage
of the grace of life1Pt
3:7 (BBE). Consider her convictions then decide.
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