Lesson to "unlearn"

One of the lessons I have planned to unlearn this year is the story of the "3 Hebrew Boys".

Most people remember the story very well but only know the 'slave' name of the boys... Shadrack, Meshach, and Abed-nego.
Do you know what those names mean?

Shadrack - (possibly is derived from Shudur Aku "Command of the moon god"')
Meshach - (probably a variation of Mi•sha•aku "Who is what Aku is?", an interesting twist from the meaning of his Hebrew name)

Abed-nego (either a corrupted or deliberate use of Abednebo, "servant of Nebo/Nabu," or Abednergo, a variation of Abednergal, "servant of the god Nergal.")

It does not sound like a big deal to most people but if you take a closer look at their real Hebrew names, the meanings and how their 'slave' name mocks their real identity, it might be worth 'unlearning' those names too.

Hananiah (חֲנַנְיָה) - "Yahweh who is gracious".

Mishael (מִישָׁאֵל) - "Who is like Yahweh?” and it also means "to feed" or "to provide" as in how a husband provides for his family.

Azariah (עֲזַרְיָה) - "Yahweh has helped"

Since most people know Daniel by his Hebrew name and not as Belteshazzar (meaning - prince of Bel, or Bel protect the king), then I see no reason why Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah shouldn't replace the memorised, popular yet wrong names.

Have you lost your identity? Do you have so many versions of 'you' that you are no longer sure of who you really are? Like in the film "Borne Identity (and its sequels... i'm guessing you've watched it or read the book here...) we might have gone so far from who we are that we can't find our way back again... but the good news is.... you can start all over!

If you could start all over, will you?