From my birth he has made mention of my name.
—Isaiah 49:1
Off the top of your head can you spit out your Social Security number, driver’s license number, credit card number, vehicle VIN number?
Reducing people to numbers is among the most dehumanizing things businesses and governments have done.
Who hasn’t cringed at photos of the hideous identification numbers the Nazis tattooed on the left forearm of inmates at Auschwitz?
God has a tattoo of your name, not your number: “I have written your name on my hand” (Isa. 49:16).
It’s unlikely that your congressional representative knows your name. But God does: “I have called you by name” (Isa. 43:1).
“God, there’s an incoming call from disciple number 7680795. Want to take it?”
That’s not the way it goes.
More like this . . .
“Abba, Father, it’s me, Sarah.”
“Hi Sarah. Good to hear your voice.”
Government knows your number.
God knows your name.