17 January 2024 - God Almighty – El Shaddai
Genesis 17:1(NIV) When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless’.
This is the first occurrence of El Shaddai in the Bible. God reveals this name as He announces His covenant promise with Abraham and then this name is repeated as this promise is passed on to Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.
El Shaddai means The Almighty, all-sufficient God.
El is another name that is translated as God and can be used in conjunction with other words to designate various aspects of God’s character. Another word much like Shaddai, and from which many believe it is derived, is Shad meaning breast in Hebrew (some other scholars believe that the name is derived from an Akkadian word Šadu, meaning mountain, suggesting strength and power). This refers to God completely nourishing, satisfying, and supplying His people with all their needs as a mother would her child. Connected with the word for God, El, this denotes a God who freely gives nourishment and blessing, He is our sustainer - the Almighty all-sufficient God who protects and provides.
Psalm 91:1(NIV) Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This verse promises that for the person who dwells in God, who takes shelter in God, there will be a place to abide in His shadow.
God wants to overshadow each one of us this year. He wants to fill each one of us with an overwhelming sense of His greatness so that we know beyond all shadow of doubt that He is El Shaddai, God all-sufficient. God all-sufficient is with us. You are not alone. Psalm 46:10-11(NIV) He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’ The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3 (NIV) His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
God’s power is often displayed through our weakness. 2 Corinthians 4:7(NIV) But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. God is able to do far more abundantly than all I can ask or imagine. He is the Almighty all-sufficient God who protects and provides.
“El Shaddai is the name of the all-powerful and all-sufficient God who can do anything and meet any need.” – Warren Wierbe