What Does The Bible Say About Hearing Your Name Called?

What does the Bible say about hearing your name called?

Introduction

Have you ever heard your name being called out loudly or clearly when alone or sleeping?

Many people have been in this situation where they hear their names, but no one is physically present saying them.

This occurrence can cause you to worry or fear, but it is a good sign.

God has many ways of conveying His messages to His children on earth.

He can speak through the Bible and His prophets or talk to you directly. He mostly calls out your voice to get your attention when talking to you directly.

Many people in the Bible have experienced their names being called by God.

Some of them are Abraham, Moses, Samuel, Paul, etc.

God doesn’t call your name for the fun of it.

There is always a reason for it.

In this article, we will consider some biblical meanings associated with hearing your name being called.

So, what does the Bible say about hearing your name called?

Divine message from God

“Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.” (1 Samuel 3:10)

In 1 Samuel 3:4-10, God calls out to Samuel by name, and Samuel initially mistakes the voice for Eli, his mentor. However, after Eli told Him how to respond when he heard his name again, God delivered His message to Samuel.

He told Samuel about His judgment coming upon the house of His mentor, Eli, and told him to deliver it.

When you hear your name, be calm and sensitive because a message from God might be on the way.

If you are sleeping like Samuel when you hear it, you can go on your knees or sit up and be attentive to what the Lord might say. However, if you are in a noisy place, find a quiet place to stay to receive God’s message.

God might be sending you to someone or revealing crucial information about your life and destiny.

Called out for a divine assignment

“So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” (Exodus 3:4)

In Exodus 3:4, Moses hears God calling his name from a burning bush, which prompts him to approach and receive his divine commission.

Here, God told Moses he would be the deliverer of Israel from the chains and whips of the Pharaoh of Egypt and lead them to the Promised Land.

Prior to Moses hearing his name being called by God, he was just an ordinary shepherd fending the flock of his father-in-law.

When you hear your name, it may be that God is about to give you a great assignment.

Sometimes, this assignment might be so great that you will doubt it because of your current circumstance.

However, when God calls your name, He gives you the power and grace to fulfill your assignment.

Divine revelation

“Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).”

In John 20:16, after Jesus’ resurrection, Mary Magdalene hears Jesus calling her by name, which leads her to recognize him.

Jesus had been crucified and buried. His disciples were mourning Him and were confused about what would happen next after the death of their Master.

However, Jesus resurrected and appeared to Mary Magdalene, but she didn’t know He was the one until He called her name.

Hearing your name might be a sign that God is about to reveal Himself to you.

He might want to reveal His incredible power. However, note that when Jesus calls you and reveals Himself, He doesn’t leave you the same way.

The experience will transform your life for the better, and the event will be something to remember forever.

READ MORE: What Does It Mean When You See a Blue Jay?

Divine direction

“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.” (Isaiah 30:21)

Hearing your name is a sign of divine direction. Suppose you are currently undergoing a significant project or planning to take a major step in your business, career, or relationship, and you hear your name.

In that case, God is trying to direct you in the right way to go.

In this case, hearing your name comes with a direction or instruction.

Ensure you follow it and do not do otherwise. However, you must be careful to know that the voice calling your name is God.

The best way to know is how you feel after you have received such instruction.

Do you feel troubled in your heart or at peace?

If you are at peace, God is speaking; if otherwise, pray and be careful.

Genesis 46:1-5 records how God called Jacob’s name and then specifically told him to go to Egypt, where He would make him a great nation.

READ MORE: Biblical meaning of seeing a shooting star

Divine correction

“Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 9:4)

You might hear your name being called when you have erred or sinned against God.

This is a call to repentance.

When this happens, when you know you have sinned, quickly ask God for forgiveness and repent.

In this situation, you might experience some levels of discomfort.

This could be God chastizing you for doing what is wrong.

But with obedience and correction, you will be healed and restored.

Other biblical meanings of hearing your name called

A test of obedience

Hearing your name being called can mean God is testing your level of obedience, mainly after He has spoken to you or given you an instruction.

When God called Samuel’s name, He instructed him about Eli and his family.

God would have spoken to Eli directly because he was the Chief Priest.

However, God was training Samuel to become an obedient prophet who would become His mouthpiece and deliver messages, especially difficult ones, to His people.

Because Samuel passed God’s test by relaying God’s judgment plan to Eli, God started communicating with Samuel regularly.

For example, God instructed him to anoint Saul as the first king of Israel.

After Saul messed up, God commanded Samuel to anoint David as Saul’s successor.

Samuel’s communication with God became solid immediately after he passed his first test of obedience.

Therefore, God might only be testing your level of obedience by calling your name.

Answering or ignoring might determine how deep your relationship with Him might be going forward.

A test of faith

God can call your name to test your faith.

In Genesis 22:1-3, God called Abraham’s name and gave him an unbelievable instruction to take his only son, Isaac, and offer him as a burnt offering on a mountain.

Abraham obeyed. He took Isaac to Isaac to a mountain, tied him, and was ready to slit his throat and offer him as a burnt offer. However, God showed up again.

He called Abraham’s name twice, stopped him from killing his only son, and provided a ram for him to use in place of Isaac (Genesis 22:11-14).

Abraham passed God’s test. He was willing to give God his one and only son.

God was pleased with his faith, so He blessed Him and swore by His name to multiply his descendants (Genesis 22:16-18).

God might want to release an instruction that might seem impossible to obey when He calls you.

However, that might be to test your faith and release a major blessing and miracle after you pass.

Deliverance from spiritual death

One of Jesus’ most profound miracles was bringing Lazarus back to life after he had died for four days.

When Jesus got to Lazarus’ tomb, He called Lazarus’ name loudly.

And Lazarus, who was dead and already stinking, came out of the grave (John 11:38-44).

Perhaps you believe something is dead in your life. It could be your business, health, marriage, or career, and you have been praying about it, waiting for a miracle.

Hearing your name called might be a sign of revival and reawakening happening in your life.

Respond, and you might experience a divine turnaround in that area where you are trusting God.

Divine warning

Hearing your name being called might be a divine warning about an impending danger, sin, or mistake that may affect you negatively.

Jesus called Peter twice, informing him about how Satan would tempt him (Luke 22:31–32).

In Luke 22:54-62, Peter fell into temptation or sin by denying Jesus thrice.

When you hear your name as a believer, pray fervently against any temptation that may make you deny Jesus or your faith.

Ask God for wisdom and divine intervention.

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