In times past, in most cultures, names were chosen to connote a meaning of significance - one's heritage, circumstance of birth, a perceived calling or a desired calling. In recent times, however, it appears that children are simply named after famous characters in movies or trending nice-sounding names. Yet, there are certain names that many will not want to use for their children because those who bore them were or are infamous for their character or legacy.
Rarely, do you come across people called Judas, Lucifer or Hitler if it isn't somewhat linked to their family name and cannot be altered. Today, Hitler is associated with evil, wickedness and destruction. Judas is associated with betrayal. Even Lucifer, a Latin term with a good literal meaning of 'light bearer' or 'light meaning', is a taboo because it is identified with Satan. In the Biblical narrative, the importance of names is underscored by the fact God named or renamed some characters to align them with their calling. Before the birth, the names of of John and Jesus (Emmanuel) were revealed. Abram was changed to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, Jacob to Israel and Simon to Peter. This shows that names are important.
In the next few days, we'll be focusing on some names of the God we've positioned ourselves to encounter and in whose presence we're standing in our garments of righteousness.
When apostle Paul traveled through Athens, he was struck by one name inscribed on an altar, “the Unknown God”. An unknown thing or person is unrevealed, secret, hidden or undisclosed. It will take research or introduction from someone acquainted with this thing or person for its identity to be known or disclosed. One key information that must be revealed is its name. The people of Athens had rightly perceived that beyond the plethora of gods they had conceived in their history, there still remained one that they hadn't yet encountered. For the people of Israel, it took John the Baptist to introduce Jesus as the beloved Son of God and lamb of God. For this Gentile population, Paul, a man who had encountered the name and person of Jesus on the road to Damascus, played a significant role in revealing the identity of the then unknown God.
This establishes an all-important truth that without a witness or revelation God cannot be known. Today, there are many who have an idea of the existence of God but He remains unknown to them. It is God's will that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. "But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?" Romans 10:14. A revelation of God, including His name, is crucial for our experience of Him. Who is God to you? Which of His names are you familiar with and what do they mean to you?
On few occasions, God introduced Himself with a name by which a people group could refer to Him. For instance, to Moses he said I AM THAT I AM (Exodus 3:13-14). In some other narratives, He concealed His name because it was too wonderful for the involved persons to understand (see Judges 13:17-18, Genesis 32:29). Other times, those who encountered Him coined a name from God's dealings with them and the specific revelation He wanted them to have of Him. All these names in Scripture reveal different facets of His personality, character and nature to us. Let's see a few of them: El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty), El Elyon (The Most High God), Adonai (Lord, Master), Yahweh (Lord, Jehovah), El-Roi (The God who sees me), Jehovah Nissi (The Lord, My Banner), Jehovah Rohi (The Lord, My Shepherd), Jehovah Rapha (The Lord that Heals), Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide), Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace).
Today, we'll discuss the name, El-Shaddai, and commence with the background to this revelation. Abram first encountered God in Haran when he was 75 years old. He moved to Canaan in pursuit of a promised heritage of blessing through his descendants (see Genesis 12). Over two decades, Abram prospered and increased in wealth and influence. He continued to have various interactions with God in this period but the specific promise of a child through his wife, Sarai, was unfulfilled. Then, out of the blue, God reveals Himself again to him.
“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.
” Genesis 17:1-2, NKJV.
During the long wait, Abram and his well-meaning wife devised an alternative plan, following an acceptable method in their eastern culture then, to help God fulfill this delayed promise through her maidservant Hagar. This didn't work out exactly as planned, considering the tensions that the conception of Ishmael brought. Now, Abram was soon turning ninety-nine and his beloved wife was still barren. In fact, Sarah, at 89, was now far into the menopausal stage so the possibility of birth was zero. As Paul commented in Romans 4, both Abraham and Sarah's bodies were as good as dead in respect of the natural process of sex and conception. Sarah herself reasoned that she was worn out and could not have the pleasure of sex or conception (see Genesis 18:11-12). Hope faded with each passing day and the odds were against them ever receiving that promise.
It is at this point that the El-Shaddai, the Almighty, reveals Himself. The One who has complete power that far surpasses the capabilities and limitations of this natural realm. He is not constrained by time and nothing could hinder what He wanted to do for Abraham and Sarah. He is supreme, omnipotent, great, enormous and all-powerful. He was, in effect, telling Abraham, "I am not so powerless to let you settle for Ishmael as the covenant child. No! The promised child will be born in my own time and by my own method and power."
Beloved, this is the God we serve and today He wants to reveal Himself to you as the El- Shaddai. Maybe, like Abraham, you have waited so long for certain promises that you are even beginning to doubt what you heard. The physical limitations, medical reports, time constraints and mounting evidence show that your promise cannot happen in the natural. But are you ready to encounter El-Shaddai?
Another literal but less known Hebrew meaning of El-Shaddai is the "Mountain One" and for Abraham this would have greater significance. In the ancient eastern culture, most people groups viewed the mountains as gods. Having dwelt amongst these different groups on his sojourn, Abram might have acquainted himself with the pagan beliefs about these gods and what they could do. But God appears on the scene and introduces Himself as the real Mountain One. Why? Mountains symbolize formidability, strength, steadfastness, stability, trustworthiness, firmness and immovability. He is faithful, unchanging, unfailing and reliable. He could cause His covenant promises to come to pass without human help. Nothing is impossible for Him.
I don’t know what your situation is but the El-Shaddai is your God too. He is able to surround you as the mountains that surround Jerusalem (Psalm 125:2). His limitless power can fulfill His promises to you against all odds. Have you settled for something other than His plan, purpose or promise? It is time to dream again because, like Sarah and Abraham, you will encounter the El-Shaddai and laugh again. Accept His invitation and walk before Him in righteousness.