El Shaddai ~ God Almighty

This week in Bible study we have been studying El Shaddai – God Almighty. Before delving in to the specific passages of Scripture we studied let’s get an overall understanding of His Name from the Hebrew. We have already learned that ‘El’ is God. This is what ‘Shaddai’ tells us about who God is – He is almighty, able to do anything and everything at any time. The word ‘shad’ has been translated as breast. This conveys nourishment. Putting the meaning together with ‘almighty’, God is mighty to nourish or supply. In other words, in full abundance He is able to pour out His blessings. Now let’s look at what we can learn about El Shaddai from the Scriptures.

What I Learned in the Homework
God introduced us to himself as El Shaddai in Genesis 17:1; “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless”. In verse 3 we see how Abram reacted to this encounter, “Abram fell facedown”. In our homework this week we studied three ways we can apply being “face down” before El Shaddai to our own lives. (Please read Genesis 17:1-8 before continuing.)

Face Down to His Power – We learned that God is the keeper of His promises. His power is without limits to fulfill what He has promised. “The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it” (1 Thess. 5:24).

Face Down to the Appointed Time – We learned that it was 24 years before God’s promise of an heir to Abram was fulfilled. Not only is power in God’s hands, but God acts on His schedule not ours.

Face Down to His Process – What we learned about God’s process was powerful. We were reminded of the command found in Genesis 17:1: “walk before me and be blameless”. In our small group we spent some time discussing what it means to be blameless before the Lord. What it doesn’t mean is being perfect and without sin. What is does mean is walking in harmony or agreement with God. It means when God points to sin in our lives we agree with Him, we repent and we move on putting that thing in our past.

We also learned about discipline. It says in Hebrews 12:5-6, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son”. God’s disciple is about teaching us a better way, His way, not leaving us condemned.

Sometimes in our lives we will go through the process of preparation before a promise of God can be fulfilled. In the homework we were asked if there was a promise that we were waiting on God to fulfill. We were challenged on what we might need to do in order to cooperate with God’s promise. I will ask you to consider this in your own life.

What I Learned in Class
Sandee taught us about a man who intimately knew God as El Shaddai. She pointed out that God is called El Shaddai 48 times in the Old Testament; 31 of these occur in the book of Job.

Scripture tells us that Job was righteous and blameless before God. He was also very wealthy. Not only was he financially prosperous but he was blessed with a large family and the respect of his community. This all changed in a whirlwind of tragedy. Job’s livestock were killed or stolen, his servants were murdered and his children died. Job’s response is evidence of how he saw God: “At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised” (Job 1:20-21).

Job lost everything that was dear to him. (We later learn that he also lost his health, his friends, and the respect of all.) He goes on to say in Job 2:10b, “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?". Job had no control over his circumstances but he did have control over his response. Instead of giving way to bitterness he fell before God in worship. Sandee pointed out that Job desperately sought an answer from God about why he was suffering yet God never answered this question. But God did not leave Job in despair. He revealed himself to Job and gave him a different perspective. “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:2-6).

Job’s suffering is a difficult thing for us to wrap our minds around. Most of us will never experience the magnitude of his loss yet we still will experience circumstances that rock our worlds. Sandee made an important point. When things happen that leave us burdened and broken what choice do we have but to trust God? It is a choice between victory and defeat. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life”. Like Job, let us fall before God in reverence, run to Him as our refuge, and trust Him as our rewarder.

Wrapping It All Up
This week we looked at the lives of two men. Their circumstances were vastly different. The specific way God worked in their lives was also very different. But the God they worshiped and how He made Himself know to them was the same - El Shaddai, God Almighty. They were not perfect and they did not fully understand His ways but this did not change who He was in their lives. When they encountered God they fell face down before Him in reverence, worship and submission. Let’s end today by worshiping Him as El Shaddai in our own lives.