25 August 2024

EL SHADDAI – GOD ALMIGHTY

(The Names Of God: TNOG 4)

The Name El Shaddai was first used when God reiterated His Covenant with Abram, 13 years after Ishmael was born and no sign of the promised son, Isaac. He was 99 years old when God appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty (El Shaddai). Walk before Me, and be blameless. And I will establish My Covenant between Me and you. And I will multiply you exceedingly” (Gen.17:1-2). God then changed his name from Abram to Abraham (v.5). This was an encouragement to him that God will now fulfill His promise of giving him the son of promise Isaac, from whom “a multitude of nations” will spring from. Then Abraham will indeed become “the father of many nations”.

El Shaddai implies that whatever God promises He will fulfill, no matter how long it takes or whatever may happen. It took 25 years for His promise to be fulfilled after God first promised Abram a son in Gen.15, when he was 75 years old. God assured him, “I will establish My Covenant between Me and you”. This means that El Shaddai is the Covenant-keeping God; whatever He promises He will be faithful to do it (1 Thess.5:24; Deut.7:7-9). God reminded Moses that He established His Covenant with Abraham and his descendants to give them the Promised Land (Exo.6:3-4). That is why He repeatedly said to Israel, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob” (Exod.3:6).

This Name is derived from a root word meaning “mountain”, thus picturing God as “the Overpowering Almighty One, standing on a mountain”. It also implies that God as “the All-powerful Source of blessing and comfort”. This is seen in His comforting and assuring Abraham, who may have been wondering why after 24 years His promise to him was not yet been fulfilled? God told him He would not only fulfill that promise but will also “multiply you exceedingly” (NASV).

The only condition to see all His promises to us be fulfilled is: “Walk before Me, and be blameless” same as He gave that to Abram. Many of us do not see His promises fulfilled in our lives because we have not fulfilled this condition. To walk before God means to have a constant deep and intimate relationship with God. Noah walked with God and was righteous. Enoch walked with God and pleased God because of his faith and love and God took him to Heaven (Heb.11:5-6). Walking with God makes one “blameless” - meaning that one is “faultless” in his character. Walking with God results in holiness, which comes when we walk in the fear of God. Those who fear the Lord lack nothing (Psalm 34:9).

It is also walking in faith, believing Who God is and that He will do as He promises. Faith delights God and pleases Him: “For without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb.11:6). With EL SHADDAI- God Almighty - nothing is impossible. AMEN! 

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