He Knows Us By Name

He Knows Us By Name

The LORD replied to Moses, “I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.” Exodus 33:17

Grace’s appointment was scheduled for ten o’clock, but I was running late—as usual. I knocked on the exam room door and walked in gingerly, fully expecting an earful for how long she’d had to wait.

“I’m so sorry that I’m running late this morning, Grace.”

“That’s okay, Dr. Anderson. I’ve waited a lot longer for other doctors. And when I come here, you always take your time with me. I’ve known you for so long that I don’t think of you as our family doctor.”

“You don’t?” I asked, puzzled.

“Nope, I just think of you as family.”

I was humbled to be invited into the inner circle of so many of my patients’ lives, and I was honored to share their journeys with them. Unfortunately, I didn’t have good news for Grace that day.

“Your tests came back, and they’re not good. You’re going to need surgery, probably followed by rehab. Your hip has walked its last mile.”

“That’s okay. I know I haven’t walked it alone.”

Grace’s surgery went well, and I came to see her in the rehab unit. She was smiling, though I could tell she was in great pain.

“I haven’t worked this hard in a long, long time,” she said. “But I will do this so I can get back on my feet for my family.”

Like all of my patients, Grace wasn’t just a number. She was a person whom the entire staff knew by name, and she knew our names, as well. To be considered family by her was something we never took for granted.

In today’s verse, when the Lord replies to Moses, he doesn’t treat Moses’ prayer as just one in a long line of requests; instead, God acknowledges Moses’ request and assures Moses that he will look on it favorably. If that wasn’t enough, God reminds Moses that he knows his name.

What a marvelous thing to consider. The God of the universe knows our names, and he hears every one of our requests. More important, he looks favorably on us.

TODAY’S RX

Today, when you meet new people, look favorably on them, and remember their names. It will remind you of what God does for us.

God, it’s reassuring to know that I’m not just a face in the crowd to you, but rather your child whom you know by name, care about, and desire to hear from. I lift up to you all that is on my heart today.