God Almighty - EL SHADDAI

There are some people in this world who are willing for God to be the God of heaven, but they are not willing for Him to be the God on earth. The Lord’s Prayer says, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” Although the prayer says, “Thy will be done in earth,” most people want their own wills to be done here on earth.

Man’s reasoning will never give man a true knowledge of God (no matter how enlightened or how logical he may believe that he is). Only the revelation from God does that. In order to see the greatness of our God as the “Almighty God,” we must observe God’s revelation of Himself.

One way God reveals things about Himself to us is through the titles He gives Himself. God refers to Himself by a number of different names in the Bible. In verse 1 of Genesis 1, God reveals Himself by the Hebrew word Elohim, the Creator. In the second chapter of Genesis He uses the name Jehovah, denoting His relationship to what He created. In this study I would like to delve into the scriptures which reveal God as El Shaddai, translated “God Almighty” or “Almighty God.”

Genesis 17:1 contains the first occurrence of this name. In Biblical research, the first use of a word or a term or an expression often contains tremendous significance. What is the great truth concerning this name for God, El Shaddai, in its first use?

• Genesis 17:1: And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God [El Shaddai]...

God didn’t say to Abram, “I am Jehovah” or “I am Elohim”; He said, “I am El Shaddai (the Almighty God),” El Shaddai in Hebrew. El is “God, ” Shaddai is “almighty.” He is the Almighty God. Now what does it mean that our God, Who is Elohim and Jehovah, is also El Shaddai, the Almighty God? What exactly is being revealed to us about God? Let’s observe the rest of the verse which contains this name.

• ...I am the Almighty God [El Shaddai]; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

The text literally says “walk before me and you are complete.” “Walk and be complete.” Walk upon what? The revelation God had given. In the context of the passage this is essentially saying, “Walk upon the revelation I give you Abram. Don’t walk by your reasoning or your opinions.”

• Verse 2: And I [El Shaddai, Almighty God] will make my covenant between me and thee, and I will multiply thee exceedingly.

God said to Abram in Canaan, “I, your Almighty God, will make a covenant with you. I will see to it that your offspring will be exceedingly numerous.” The pronoun “I” refers back to God as El Shaddai, Almighty God in verse 1, throughout this section of Genesis.

• Verses 3 and 4: And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

God speaks to humble Abram and promises to make him “a father of many nations.”

• Verse 5: Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram.

The word “Abram” in Hebrew means “father of height.” God wanted this man to have a more appropriate name, so He renamed him. ...but thy name shall be Abraham... God gave Abram the new name “Abraham.” And the word “Abraham” means “father of a great multitude” or “father of many nations. ” The name “Abram” no longer accurately described God’s man. God saw him as the father of a great multitude, so that’s what He called him.

Now Abraham, this father of a great multitude, was a friend of God. James 2:23 says: “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” Isaiah 41:8 states, “But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.” What a relationship God and Abraham had!

• Genesis 17:5: ...for a father of many nations have I [El Shaddai, Almighty God] made thee.

In this verse “God Almighty” puts in the past tense what to Abraham was still future, was yet to come to pass. The words “God Almighty” indicate throughout the Scriptures that He is a God Who is an all-powerful God with every resource to fulfill every promise to every believer.

• Verses 6-8: And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I [Almighty God] will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I [El Shaddai, Almighty God] will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee [from Isaac to Christ] in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God [Elohim] unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I [El Shaddai, Almighty God] will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their [thy seed’s] God [Elohim].

God promised great things to Abraham by giving him the land of Canaan and by assuring him that his offspring would be of Elohim, God the Creator.

Please note that in chapter 28 of Genesis, Isaac, Abraham’s son, called God El Shaddai. In the context of this twenty-eighth chapter, Isaac was speaking to his son Jacob:

• Genesis 28:3: And God Almighty [El Shaddai] bless thee [Jacob], and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people.

God Almighty blesses, makes fruitful, and causes our seed to multiply. The Almighty God confirmed with Jacob the same great promise He had given to his grandfather Abraham.

• Genesis 35:10: And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and He called his name Israel.

God changed Jacob’s name. “Jacob” means “supplanter,” one who takes the place of another. Instead of “Jacob,” God called him “Israel,” meaning “prince of God.” The passage quotes God as saying, “Israel shall be thy name: and He called his name Israel.” God said it, that settled it.

• Verse 11: And God said unto him [Israel], I am God Almighty [El Shaddai]: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins.

God reiterated to Israel the promise He had made to Abraham, again using the name El Shaddai. Associated with that title is fruitfulness, a multitude of nations, and kings from Israel’s loins.

• Verse 12: And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.

Do you see the encouragement and knowledge given in these passages? Another use of El Shaddai is found in Genesis 43 when Israel was speaking to his sons who returned from Egypt:

• Genesis 43:14: And God Almighty [El Shaddai] give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.

In this use, Israel was pleading for the mercy of “God Almighty” to deliver his two sons: Simeon and Benjamin.

Genesis 49 speaks of Almighty God’s blessings on Joseph:

• Genesis 49:25: Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty [the Aramaic text says “Almighty God”], who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb.

The Almighty God is the fathomless fountain of living waters, completely bountiful. Not only do the words “Almighty God” denote bountifulness, but they also show blessing. He is a God Who supports His people. He is a God Who defends His people. He is a God Who takes care of His people. The Almighty God is desirous and able to supply every need of every believer.

So the words “Almighty God” and “God Almighty” as they appear in the Scriptures are always in the context of bountifulness to the believer, blessing to the believer, support to the believer, defense for the believer, supply for the believer’s every need. These were the promises of God Almighty to the Old Testament believer. And these are the promises of God for born-again believers since the day of Pentecost, the age of which you and I are a part. The Almighty God has not changed His promise, for we also are Abraham’ s seed by believing.

You see, there are two classifications of the seed of Abraham: bloodline and believing.

• Galatians 3:7: Know ye therefore that they which are of faith [those who have believed on Christ], the same are the children of Abraham.

We who have accepted Christ are children of Abraham; therefore, we have the promise of God for bountifulness, for blessing, for support, for defense, for the supplying of needs. The promises of bounty and blessings made by the Almighty God to Abraham are ours to claim in Christ.

• Galatians 3:28 and 29: There is neither Jew [Judean] nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one [born again of God’s Spirit] in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’ s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

This “promise” in verse 29 dates back to God’s promise to Abraham in Canaan. It is still true to this very day and will continue to be so until the return of Christ. When you confessed with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believed God raised him from the dead, you were saved. That made you a child of God and a child of Abraham by believing. We as the believers’ line are children of Abraham. And we have the same God Almighty that Abraham had—a God of bountifulness, a God of blessing, God Who supplies our every need.

• Philippians 4:19: But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches, in glory by Christ Jesus.

This is the same God as the Almighty God Who supplied all of Abraham’s need and promised to do the same for Abraham’s seed as well. How far below par we as sons of God have lived! We need to understand what it means to be children of Abraham. We need to dare believe the Scriptures which say that our God today is as He was to Abraham. He is still a God of bountifulness and still a God of blessing. He is not a God Who punishes people or denies them. El Shaddai is a God Who so loves that He gave His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, for our redemption. God did not do this in vain, He desires that we receive and enjoy what was paid for. And oh the price He paid! Our Father God and our Lord Jesus Christ have given us so much more than we realize and utilize.

2Corinthians 6 says we are workers together with this same God:

• 2Corinthians 6:1:We then, as workers together with Him [that is, with God]

We work together with God and for God. He is the boss.

2Corinthians 6 also tells us about our other coworkers.

• 2Corinthians 6:14: Be ye [believers, Abraham’s seed by faith] not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness.

We believers are not to align ourselves in "fellowship" with unbelievers. Righteousness and unrighteousness simply don’t mix. They are unequal and, in God’s eyes, cannot be yoked together (cannot work in God's business together in harmony). ...and what communion hath light with darkness?

As a believer, you are light. What communion, or fellowship, do you as light have with an unbeliever, who is darkness?

• Verses 15 and 16: And what concord [agreement] hath Christ with Belial [the Devil]? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God [the Body of believers] with idols? for ye [the Body of believers] are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I [God] will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

As Almighty God promised to bless Abraham’s seed, so He promises to bless the Church of the Body, Abraham’s believing line.

• Verses 17 and 18: Wherefore come out from among them [the unbelievers who are trying to tamper with your life and tell you what to do], and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I [the Lord Almighty] will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters [those who are born again], saith the Lord Almighty.

There it is—Lord Almighty. This is the same Almighty God Who spoke in Genesis. God says to the Body of believers in the Church today, “I am your Lord Almighty, the Almighty God. I will be bountiful unto you. I will bless you. I will support you. I will defend you. I will supply your every need.” This is the significance of the words “Almighty God” in the Bible—not just to Abraham, but from Abraham all the way through to the Body of Christ, the Church, of which you and I are a part.

I began this hub by saying that some people are willing for God to be the God of heaven, but not the God on earth, because they want to be the God on earth. But some day God Almighty is going to be the one totally in charge. This era in which we live is called “Man’s Day” in the Bible. Man does the judging. But the “Lord’ s Day” is coming; and when it arrives, the will of God shall indeed be done. And at that time the same Almighty God of all bountifulness to us will then deal with the unbeliever.

• Revelation 19:11-15: And I [the Apostle John] saw heaven opened, His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Almighty God, Who to the believer is bountiful, protective, and supportive, a supplier of the believer’s every need, is the same Almighty God Who one day will bring wrath and vengeance upon the unbelievers. This same God will take sweeping action against His enemies. His Son Jesus Christ is coming back some day as king of kings and lord of lords.

• Verse 16: And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

The Christ who was promised to Abraham is the same Christ who is our lord and savior today. And he is the same Christ Jesus who is going to gather us together and then will come back in judgment, representing Almighty God upon the earth.

After all the reassurances of blessings the Almighty God has given us, surely we can trust in God’s almighty ability and allow Him to guide our lives and supply our every need. Truly God is almighty from everlasting to everlasting.