Woman to Woman: Names of God Series: "Resting in El Shaddai"

"Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless. I will make My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.”

~Genesis 17:1

Last week, we took a look at the name Hagar gives to God in Genesis 16 - the name El Roi - which means "The God Who sees". I have always loved studying that portion of Scripture and writing about it was a delight, as well.

So much so that I thought now was finally the time to work on a project here at Woman 2 Woman Ministries that I have wanted to produce for a long time - a weekly devotional series study on the names of God.

My hope is that you will walk away from each installment in this series each Tuesday feeling like you know God better, trust Him more, and love Him more deeply. I want you to feel and believe His heart for you and be encouraged and fortified in that knowledge.

So, today, we are going to take a look at the name God gives to Himself in Genesis 17:1, the name translated "God Almighty". In Hebrew, this name is "El Shaddai" literally meaning, "God Almighty; all-sufficient and more than enough for our needs."

This name and its meaning are so impactful considering to whom it is that God revealed Himself this way. He presented this name of His and all of its meaningfulness to Abraham. If you remember Abraham's story, he went through quite a lot. Let's do a brief recap, shall we?

Abraham was called by God to leave behind his hometown, his extended family, his friends, his old religion -basically everything he had ever known that spelled out security or familiarity to him! - to instead follow a God he had not known all his life along a journey to an unknown and foreign town to take up residence there.

Abraham was without an heir for years and years, even long after he had been promised one by God.

Even after his promised son was born, he was one day called upon by God to sacrifice him (God stepped in, and he didn't end up having to sacrifice his son, but talk about an act of trust!).

Abraham did not have an easy life. He did not live a life characterized by ease, comfort, familiarity, dreams instantly fulfilled, great riches in abundance, and all his questions answered. Instead, he lived a life of trust and faith in the One Who had called him along his journey and promised to be with him every step of the way.

That, my sister, is what makes this revelation in Genesis 17:1 so powerful. God reveals Himself as "El Shaddai" - "God Almighty; all-sufficient and more than enough for our needs."

Did you catch that? Along a challenging, confusing, long journey of life, Abraham needed exactly what God provided him with: the realization that He and He alone can and would meet all of Abraham's needs - even when he couldn't see how it would all pan out!

I don't know what you are going through in your life right now, but I do know this - God has revealed Himself to you and me as El Shaddai, the Almighty, the all-sufficient One who is more than enough for our needs. Whatever you may be facing today, whatever your fear may be, whatever the concern is that is weighing heavy on your heart, I can assure you this: God is sufficient in and of Himself to meet all your needs. He is able to meet them, and He delights in doing so.

Turn to your El Shaddai, friend, and have hope!

Reflection Questions:

1) What stands out to you about this name of God and its meaning?

2) How can you apply this truth of Who God is to your current life circumstances?

3) What is the Lord saying to you right now?