Elshaddai means Almighty God. In Hebrew, El Shaddai means “The God Who Is More Than Enough.” He is the All-Sufficient One. The Good News Bible translates El Shaddai as the “Almighty God.” (Genesis 17: 1, 35:11).
El Shaddai is one of the names used for God. It is a Hebrew name for God and it occurs only eight times in the Old Testament.
El Shaddai means “The Almighty, all-sufficient God.” Sometimes the name is also simply Shaddai. This means “The Almighty.” El Shaddai first appears in Genesis 17:1.
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. (NASB) Genesis 17:1
Both forms of the name for God appear forty-eight times in the Old Testament. Here are the passages: Genesis 17:1; 28:3; 35:11; 43:14; 48:3; 49:25; Exodus 6:3; Numbers 24:4; 24:16; Ruth 1:20, 21; Job 5;17; 6:4, 14; 8:3, 5; 11:7; 13:3; 15:25; 21:15, 20; 22:3, 17, 23, 26; 23:16; 24:1; 27:2, 10, 11, 13; 29:5; 31:2, 35; 32:8; 33:4; 34:10, 12; 35:13; 37:23; 40:2; Psalms 68:14; 91:1; Isaiah 13:6; and Joel 1:15.
This is a wonderful name for us to remember because it reminds us of the fact that God is all-sufficient to care for us and powerful enough to be able to do it. God could have been powerful but not in every area of our life. Or, He could have been able to meet our needs in every area of our life but only to a degree. God can minister to every area of your life whether physical, spiritual, emotional, or intellectual and He can do it completely. He is completely capable and powerful.
Few verses from the above mentioned:
Genesis 43: 14 – And may God Almighty[a] grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”
Ruth 1:20 – “Don’t call me Naomi,[a]” she told them. “Call me Mara,[b] because the Almighty
[c]
has made my life very bitter.
Joel 1:15 – Alas for that day!
For the day of the Lord is near;
it will come like destruction from the Almighty.[a]
The next book after Genesis to use El Shaddai the most number of times that is, The Almighty God is Job.
- El: “mighty power”
EL is found 250 times in the Bible.
“GOD” / El – 410 times, this term was the most common general designation of deity in the ancient Near East. While it frequently occurred alone, ‘El was also combined with other words to constitute a compound term for deity, or to identify the nature and functions of the “god” in some manner. Thus the expression “God, the God of Israel” identified the specific activities of Israel’s God.” [1]
So EL means, “Mighty power, omnipotence, the strong one.”
- Shaddai: “all sufficient provider”
We saw from Elohim that God can speak nature into existence.
With Shaddai, we will see that He can cause nature to do what is contrary to itself.
As El Shaddai, a sea can part, the sun can stop,
It’s El Shaddai that comes to a 99 year old man who will make him a father.
El says God is All Powerful
He can make a sea, divide a sea. Make a sun, make a sun stand still. Send His son as an embryo, raise that crucified Son from the dead
El Shaddai is bountiful, self-sacrificing love. Giving and pouring Himself out for His beloved.
He is the God who empties Himself for His beloved…
-THIS IS WHAT GOD MEANS WHEN HE SAYS “I AM ALMIGHTY”
Pagans say “Our god is almighty”, meaning he can destroy and conquer. Hebrews said “He is our Sustainer”
-He is the source of all our blessings
What does this name imply?
- His name is a call to Faithfulness
When we first see the name, Abram is to the point he knows he can never become a Father on His own.
-Remember, when God first called Abram and said he would become a dad, Abram believed that he was going to be able to do that himself. That’s why he went along with Sarai and Hagar.
Now he is 99 yrs. old. No longer does he have that power. At this time God says, “I am El Shaddai. I am able to provide for all your needs.”
Genesis 17: 4b – 6
“As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.
5 No longer will you be called Abram [2] ; your name will be Abraham, [3] for I have made you a father of many nations.
6 I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you.
….”you don’t need your plans, your strategies, your handmaids… all you need is Me!”
-consequently in vs 5, and notice, God didn’t say “I will make you a father of many nations”, but “I have made you….”
Abraham had a choice. Same as us. Not if he was going to believe IN God, but if he was going to BELIEVE GOD.
There is a huge difference.
We don’t struggle with believing IN God. We struggle with God making these incredible statements and whether I am going to believe Him or Not.
Abram’s struggle. Is he going to go back to camp and address these folks who have known him for 99 years and say, “my name is no longer Abram, just call me Abraham – father of many”
Can you imagine what the people thought when he went back to camp and told them he had a new name?
Abram’s choice… is he going to believe God?
That is OUR choice.
-Does the world see you living these promises of El Shaddai, when the world thinks they are foolish promises?
Illustration:
The impala. Can jump incredibly high. But zoos keep them in with a small fence. Why? Because an impala will not jump when he cannot see where he is going to land.
He has no faith. A little bitty wall keeps him in.
Many of us live this way.
When we worry, fret, are anxious. We say to the world, “I don’t know El Shaddai”. My God is too small. When we know El Shaddai, we don’t live like we still wear the old name.
God says if we are going to use the name El Shaddai, then we better believe Him. And live like people who believe Him.
- It’s a call to Fruitfulness
“I will make you very fruitful”
Abraham taught his children, they taught theirs
Gen 28:3 note the reference to fruitful – God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples.
Gen. 35:11 Jacob – And God said to him, “I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come from your own body.
Gen. 48:3-4 Jacob says to Joseph – 3 And Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, 4 and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples and will give this land to your offspring after you for an everlasting possession.’
Patriarchs taught their children they survived because El Shaddai would make them fruitful.
El Shaddai knows your potential. He knows the fruit than can come out of your life. He is willing to work in your life to make it happen.
- A Humbling Process
Answering the call from El Shaddai, sometimes means submitting to Humbleness
It shows that nothing is in my control. I have known God and now I know God to be all sufficient. Nothing is impossible for Him.
Think of pain while weightlifting. It might hurt, but you are becoming stronger in the process. More weights equal more pain. More pain equals more strength. – more faith, more of God being reflected in my life. Displaying El Shaddai.
With all this information, why am I not able to believe in God. Frankly speaking all of us struggle with unbelief. We are not able to comprehend that how can something contrary to my situation take place. How can I have a baby at 99, how can Ruth become fruitful.
Ruth 1:20-21 Ruth had followed her husband to a foreign land (possible against God’s will). Has now returned without husband or child.
God was able to make her fruitful.
We have a God who holds the beginning and the end. He is God – El Shaddai.
Being confident in El Shaddai can change my entire demeanour.
What are my struggles today, my situations, which according to me cannot change?
Situations:
Family: Struggling with my relationships. I may be the only believer / Christian. Or my family is completely God loving but I can’t find that meaning or purpose. Struggling with caregiving both to children and spouse. Finances / provisions are never sufficient, feels like before the month end, I am living hand to mouth.
Workplace Situation: Lot of pressure at work, my boss / manager / TL is never satisfied with what I do. Can’t crack an interview. Can’t expect an increment. And so, on
Health – Mental & Physical: Often falling sick, not able to come out of the chain of sickness, Emotions are all over due to various reason, not able overcome sorrow and anxiety.
Self Sufficiency: On the other hand, I have everything in life, and then how should El Shaddai have an impact on me.
God is a God of creation and destruction. More than the earthly possessions / comfort He needs your attention, companionship and love. The moment we forget El Shaddai, beware, He can work contrary to all that He has created. It makes me feel, that I am under a supreme King. He is POWERFUL.
Therefore, acknowledge God in all situations, whether in pain or in Joy. Always give thanks, not simply but believing that God is El Shaddai – He is almighty.
In the New Testament God came across as El Shaddai when he changed situations, people, their perspective.
Then there was a man named Saul in Acts chapter nine, who while traveling on the road to Damascus was struck by a blinding light and there, he met the Saviour Jesus Christ. His name was changed to Paul, and his statement was this; “He was the chief of sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15 – 17 (15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.).
In His sufficiency God saved Saul, who was, “before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious; but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.” 1 Timothy 1:13.
Today, the question for all of us is – Do you dare to experience this EL SHADDAI.
If I say yes then, I need to act in an opposite Spirit:
- I speak faith into my life, not confessing my ability but His to change / transform my situation
- Get out of the company of discouraging people / people who produce doubt. Beware!! Hold on to people who would challenge your faith. Yes, it is contradicting but a person who is interested in growing your faith will always push you to your limits. It shows that I am totally dependent on God. (Also, you may sometimes repel from those people who challenge you and get attracted to those who make you feel comfortable). It’s my choice to grow or shrink.
- Press on towards the goal / Act upon your faith. Faith without Action is meaningless. El Shaddai will keep up to His name.
What a lesson this is for me! I am reminded that: “Faithful is he who calls you, who will also do it.” Abraham’s ability to have a child when he was 100 years old was God’s challenge–not Abraham’s–because He really is “all sufficient” for all things.
Let’s remember these 3 things. We serve El Shaddai an ALL MIGHTY GOD. Challenge Him through your situation and not depend on your comprehension.
Sandra wife of Virjil .The New Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that New Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.
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