Divine Names: El Shaddai. PT. 3 Almighty God is the All Sufficient sustainer

Good morning to each one of you.

I hope that your week is going well and that you are doing all things (work, recreation, study, chores) heartily as unto the Lord. 

I have a couple of blog notes for you. 

First, I would like to point out that there is an option for you to subscribe to this blog and receive it by email. I tried it in order to verify and it does work nicely.  

Second, some of you are viewing the site on a mobile device. I notice that when I use my smart phone, the very first post from February 28 is always displayed. To see the most recent post using a smart phone, look toward the top at the blog title, and you will see an arrow pointing left. Click on it and it brings you to the most current post. 

Alright, lets get going and see what we can learn about our gracious God through the study of the name El Shaddai.

Almighty God is All Sufficient and can pour out abundant supplies to meet our needs.

The name El Shaddai means that God is “All Sufficient.” He can pour forth great blessings upon those who call upon His name. This name conveys an image of God caring for His children as tenderly as any mother.   

The idea of God pouring forth abundant blessings is seen in the book of Hebrews by the use of the unique phrase “Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.” 

God poured out a superabundant blessing upon Abraham, such that his descendants cannot be counted because there are so many. Abraham went out to a place God told him he would give to him. Abraham had no idea where he was going but he put his trust in the Lord. 

Hebrews 11:8-13 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 

We also see the apostle Paul talking about Abraham and said that he "staggered not at the promise of God...but was strong in faith." 

Romans 4:17-22 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

It would not be wrong to say that the Lord Jesus Christ is El Shaddai in the flesh. This would be true for any of the Divine names. 

Jesus Christ is El Shaddai in the flesh and He poured out blessings liberally. 

Now, the Lord Jesus also did many miracles that demonstrate the same ability as El Shaddai to pour out abundantly. Notice in the following account from Matthew’s gospel that Jesus fed 5,000 men along with an unspecified number of women and children. 

The text states that this was a great multitude of people listening to the Lord’s teaching along with many being healed. Jesus had compassion upon them and He fed them by physically multiplying five loaves of bread and two fish.

Jesus is the Creator and Son of God. He demonstrated a Creator’s control over the natural elements on several occasions. Like the prophet Elisha of old, Jesus caused a few fish and some loaves of bread to physically increase to the degree that every single person was fed and yet there were twelve baskets full of leftovers. This is an astounding account but it shows Jesus Christ as the Almighty God who can pour out tremendous blessings.

Matthew 14:12-21 When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. He said, Bring them hither to me. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.

As if one account of such a miracle by Christ was not enough, Matthew records a second similar incident that took place in a different location. On the second occasion, Jesus fed 4,000 men along with an unspecified number of women and children. At this time, the text states there were great multitudes who were following Christ.

He healed many people of their defects and diseases. The day wore on and Jesus again was moved with compassion because this large throng of people were hungry and had no food source in the wilderness location. Jesus took seven loaves of bread and a few fish and poured out a notably abundant blessing such that, everyone ate until they were all filled and there were still seven baskets of leftover food.

Matthew 15:29-39 And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there. And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them: Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel. Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children. And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.

This is El Shaddai, the One who pours forth.  He is the Lord Jesus who says “Come unto me and drink.”  He is the one who offers Himself to sustain, and to bless. In this name, God is seen to be the power or the One who sheds forth all blessings. God is the all-sufficient and all-bountiful One. 

God poured out or shed forth the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost. 

It was an amazing event whereby unlearned men and women were enabled to speak in foreign languages by the Spirit of God. The Bible states that hosts of Jews from 18 different geographical locations throughout the Roman empire had traveled to Jerusalem to observe this special feast.

On that day, large numbers of religious pilgrims heard the gospel preached in the language of the very places from which they had traveled. It was miraculous because the disciples were largely uneducated. Yet, here they were, speaking the gospel of Jesus Christ in foreign languages that they never had a chance to learn. It was a remarkable demonstration of the Holy Ghost who came on the day of Pentecost, just as Jesus had said would happen.

Peter became a leader of the disciples at Jerusalem, and he preached his first Spirit guided sermon to the shocked and stunned religious pilgrims. As he gave a Biblical explanation of what the people had just witnessed, he stated about the Father in heaven, that “he hath shed forth this…”  

The Greek word translated “shed forth” means an outpouring that was literally gushing everywhere, overflowing, spilling out into a broad area. This singular event is a vivid reminder of what the name El Shaddai means and how God can copiously pour out His blessings.

Acts 2:1-11 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

Acts 2:32-33 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 

The Apostle Paul also uses this word in his letter to the church at Rome. Here, it is translated “shed abroad.” The subject matter is the same. He is talking about the ministry of the Holy Ghost and how He copiously pours out the love of God into each believers heart.

Romans 5:3-5 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

One final example to illustrate the name of El Shaddai and how it is reflected in the works of God, is found in Paul’s letter to Titus. In the first three verses of Titus chapter three, Paul paints a picture of what sinners are really like, before they are born again.

In verse 1, the apostle had to remind them to respect civil authorities and to comply with decisions rendered by a court of law. This would seem to indicate that those people were not doing those things.

In verse 2, Paul pleads with them to avoid speaking evil of others and to avoid getting into fights. Again, this would seem to indicate that this is the kind of behavior going on in that place. 

In verse 3, the apostle describes what an unconverted sinner does. The sinner is foolish. He is deceived. He disobeys authorities. He satisfies the lust of his flesh in defiance of God’s holy law. The sinner’s mind is filled with malice, envy and hate. It is a horribly shocking portrayal of the reality of our human condition.

Then, in verse 4, Paul turns triumphantly to the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ to change men’s hearts and to bring them out of darkness into the light of God’s truth. He describes the act of being born again as “the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” Whatever term is applied, conversion, regeneration or being born again, Paul points out that this is all the work of God’s Holy Spirit who is “shed on us abundantly..”

Titus 3:1-6 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

The name El Shaddai reminds us that, although God can and does pour out many blessings into our lives, His most important and necessary work is the work done by the Holy Spirit of God in the hearts of men when the gospel is preached. 

Points to Ponder....

• Almighty God supplies abundantly for our needs.

• Almighty God knows what our most important needs are and He meets those needs through the work of His Son, Jesus Christ. 

• Almighty God gives us His Spirit when we are born again. 

• Salvation is the great outpouring of God's Spirit, God's grace, God's mercy and God's word.  

• Salvation is the great outpouring of the love of God that made a way for sinners to be saved. 

I wonder if we who have been born again for a number of years, have forgotten that it was the pouring out of God's love that sent Jesus Christ to the cross. 

I wonder if we fail to remember that the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Spirit of Christ, so that we might be transformed into His image.

I fear we may have lost sight of the copious shedding forth of salvation when we experienced the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost. 

I think we must all talk to the Lord about this and if we have forgotten His great works, we must confess our failure and seek fresh zeal and praise Him anew for His marvelous wonders!

Praise God Almighty for His inexhaustible ability to provide for our needs in this life and in eternity!

Bob