QUESTION: What does the 'El' mean?

         1.  'El' which is often and rightly translated God primarily means 'power or might' as in creation or destruction. And is
              used in this sense many times in the Bible.

QUESTION: What does 'Shaddai' mean?

         2. 'Shaddai' is often translated  'Almighty' and  is supposed by some to mean One who has the power to do anything and
             everything.

QUESTION: What does almighty mean?    Is there anything that God can't do?

          -Almighty is not the power to do anything and everything.
          -Almighty is the power to carry out the  will of the divine nature.

         3. The name 'God Almighty' 'El Shaddai' is found 48 times in the Bible. 31 in the book of Job and 8 in Revelation.
             The thought of fruitfulness is associated with all occurrences of the word in the Bible.

         4. In the Septuagint,  the ancient version of the Bible translated from Hebrew into Greek  more than 250 years B.C.
             The name Shaddai is translated a number of times by the Greek word 'IKANOS' which  means "all-sufficient"
             The ancient rabbi's also said that  the word Shaddai was made up of 2 parts which together meant sufficient or
             self-sufficient. In this name of God we see the power or shedder-forth of  blessings, the all bountiful one and the
             all sufficient one.

      B. Historical Perspective

ACTION: Read Gen. 17:1-14

         1. The name is most clearly defined in the relationship with Abram. Abram had been  promised an heir. He made an
             effort on his own with his bond servant to have a child.  His heir was to come to him, however, not by his own
             strength but by God's.

ACTION: Read  Gen. 17:18-21

             -God was sensitive to Abram's needs, and strong enough to do something about it.  He understood Abraham's love for Ishmael and blessed and made Ishmael fruitful . But God's purpose and plan was what mattered and He told Abraham that Isaac would be given the blessing of the covenant.

             -God  showed Himself  to Abram as El Shaddai and Abram gave himself perfectly to God, and by God he too was  made fruitful.  Gen. 17:1,6

          -First he reveals Himself to Abram as El Shaddai. Next He adds something to Abram's name.

QUESTION: What does El Shaddai add to Abram's name?
                      What is the significance of this?

           -He adds the letter H. The chief  letter of His own name JEHOVAH and changes him to Abraham. By doing this He, God, symbolically gave to Abraham's offspring something of Himself, His own Nature.

QUESTION: What does Abraham do now that El Shaddai has given him something of Himself?

          -Next Abraham yields to God in everything By the outward act of circumcision Then in the sacrificial offering of his first born son Isaac.

    C. Theological Perspective
        1. The thought expressed in 'Shaddai' also describes power but not of violence  but of all-bountifulness, fruitfulness.
            'Shaddai' : the root means  'breasted' from the Hebrew word 'Shad' which means 'the breast' or more exactly 'a
            woman's breast'. Parkhurst said that El Shaddai in ' one of the divine titles, meaning '  the  power or shedder forth'
            that is of blessings, temporal and spiritual.

QUESTION: What happens when a baby tries to get too much mike from his mother too fast?

          The pouring forth from the breast, if not properly received, may choke a child. The rain from heaven not being absorbed by the earth brings forth  torrents and mighty floods,  the same word can have another meaning, that of   'to be swept away or make desolate.' This thought can also be connected with El Shaddai in that blessings and gifts  misused become      curses.

ILL: El Shaddai - the woman's breast. Example; a babe was laid down near some cliff by its     mother, while  she was busy with her herd of goats the babe, unknowingly by its mother, crawled to the edge of the  cliff. The mother, afraid to take a step, lest the child should     move further and fall off the cliff, only uncovered her breast, and so drew back  the infant to her.

         2. It is this figure which God Himself has chosen in this name to express to us the  nature of His  almightiness.

        3. This almightiness is not of sword or mere force. JEHOVAH bears a sword (Deut. 32:41,42)(Ezek. 21:3,5)

         4. But 'El Shaddai' the ' almighty' is not the sworded God. His almightiness is of the breast, the bountiful, pouring out of
             His self-sacrificing love for others.

QUESTION: How does a mother know when it is time to breast feed her baby?

         El Shaddai, who is strong enough to help and sensitive enough to care, hears our cries as the mother hears and understands the crys of her baby.

         5. Therefore He can quiet the restless and strengthen as the breast nourishes, He can attract as the breast attracts when
             we are in peril of falling from Him.

QUESTION:  So what are  two divine qualities, implied by the name El SHADDAI ?

               The strong One who is able to deliver
               The tender One who nourishes and satisfies.

         6. 'El Shaddai' the pourer forth: who pours himself out for His creatures.

ACTION: Read  Acts 20:28 Who gives them His lifeblood
                  Read Acts 2:17,33 Who sheds forth His spirit.
                  Read John 7:37 Who says 'come unto me and drink'
                  Read Ps. 81:10 Who says 'Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it'

         7. Ultimate fulfillment is in the sharing of the Holy Communion.

QUESTION: Anyone see a connection between El Shaddai and the Lord's Supper?

          We are to eat his flesh and drink of his blood. If He is to work in us and if He  is to abide in us and we in Him.
John 6:53:57

     D. Personal Application:
         1. Abraham received something from God: an 'H' from God's own name and God made a covenant with him.
             Abraham obeyed God and God made him fruitful.

         2. We receive something from God, His HS, the very nature of who God is,  is now in us as  Believers. God makes a
             covenant with us to never leave us or forsake us. He promises eternal  life and to make us fruitful. Our responsibility is
             trust, faithfulness, obedience, just as it was with Abraham. El Shaddai poured forth His life for Abraham and for us.

6 guidelines for help to Believers and their problems.

  1. Separate yourself from sin.
       Many of our problems come as the result of sin in  our lives.  ( 2 Cor. 6:17,18 ) If we harbor sin in our lives, He cannot be
       merely tender and kind, He must judge.

  2. Seek EL SHADDAI'S presence.
      He wants us to actively seek Him.  Ps. 9:10

  3. Rest in the presence of EL SHADDAI.
      God is just not a powerful creator who is far removed from our lives. He is as close as a mother or shepherd.  Ps. 91:1

  4. Follow the directions of EL SHADDAI
      We must obey and follow Him from the heart, not stubbornly with our mind or body only.   Gen. 17:1

  5. Evaluate your spiritual health.
       Look for chastening by God. It's a sign of your involvement and His with you. God may be using this to move you closer
       to Him.       Heb. 12:7       Heb. 12:5,6
           -The story of Naomi in the book of Ruth. Naomi and her husband Elimelech  disobeyed God and Elimelech and both
             their sons died. Naomi returned to Israel and knew it was EL  SHADDAI who had chastened her.  Ruth 1:20,21

   6. Claim the provision of EL SHADDAI
       Because God is faithful and strong to save, He will take care of you.  1 Thess. 5:24

            Sometimes we let a problem become a giant crisis. Only later in life do we see how small the original problem really was, especially to the Lord who solves our problems. He is EL SHADDAI, the One strong enough to help and sensitive enough to care.