This is probably one of the most well-known and beloved names for God among Christians.
It was made famous by Amy Grant’s song, “El Shaddai”, years ago.
I first heard of it before I ever became a Christian, after spending a weekend with my big sis, Ruth, at about 15 years old.
When I went to visit her one weekend, she gave me a copy of the Amy Grant album, “Age to Age.”
I really didn’t believe in anything at that point, even though I had been brought up in a Christian household and it wasn’t until much later in life that I became a Christian and then not for some time later that I started to explore and understand this and some of the other names of God which embody His character.
God unfolds more of His nature to us as we go along, it’s a journey I never grow tired of and I hope that you find Him equally inspiring.
El Shaddai is the Lord God Almighty, the All-Sufficient One, the God of Jacob.
El – represents God, who has ultimate might & power over all.
Shad – means breast and mountain, and represents one who supplies, sustains, strengthens and nourishes.
The Living Letters of Hebrew convey the meaning, “The all-consuming fire opens the door for you to walk through to be set apart.”
He calls us to holiness, separated to Him and set apart for Him.
This is a transformative process, refining us through an all-consuming fire.
Our old nature is to be consumed so that we can be brought forth as gold, purified and set apart in our new nature.
Everything He does is an act of love.
El Shaddai comforts and nurses us as a mother breastfeeds her baby.
He is a nourishing sustainer.
He nurtures, feeds, protects and loves us.
He wants us to rely fully on Him, as a child relies fully on its mother.
It signifies the terribleness of His mighty acts.
Who would dare to get between a bear and her cubs?
This is the protection we receive from Him.
To attack one of God’s children, is to put yourself in the protective path of a wrathful and protective mother figure.
Psalm 91
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High (El Elyon), will abide in the shadow of the Almighty (El Shaddai).
I will say to the Lord (Yehovah Messiah Pre-Incarnate), my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.
Here we see El Elyon, El Shaddai and Yehovah Messiah Pre-Incarnate all working together in perfect unity for our protection in His shadow.
We, His children, are sheltering under the protective shadow of His wings (Psalm 91).
If we are under the umbrella of His shelter, the covering of the Most High El Elyon, He will keep us because we are under the wings of El Shaddai and Jesus will be our refuge and our fortress, our God in whom we can fully trust.
When Jewish people pray, they wear the prayer box, the tefilin or phylactery, it reminds them that they are wrapped in El Shaddai.
He is the Guardian of their house and home and protects them and so He does for us.
El Shaddai has unmerited favour and provision for His people.
This favour cannot be earned and it is highly practical.
He doesn’t want us to be independent, self-righteous and self-reliant.
As a baby relies on its mother, so we are to rely on Him.
A Covenant With Abram
El Shaddai is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
In Genesis 17.1-8, he spoke to Abram and promised to make him a great nation, to make him fruitful and increase as a community.
Genesis 12.2-3 “I will bless you and make you a blessing AND all the families of the earth will be blessed THROUGH you.”
He is a God who makes and keeps covenant promises.
He had a plan to bless the world through Abram and we have all benefited from it.
We are not meant to horde God’s blessings and keep them to ourselves, for us, our family, our business, work and our needs, BUT to share them for the benefit of others.
This blessing is counter-cultural to today’s “me” culture.
Renamed in Christ
El Shaddai renamed Abram to Abraham and Sarai “princess” to Sarah “The Princess”, in His kingdom, we are royalty, we become who he meant us to be.
He loves to rename us everything in Christ.
We have a new identity.
You are who He says you are.
Do you believe it?
Do you know who you are in Christ and what you have access to?
We speak over people who they are in Christ.
His sufficiency covers our inadequacy, His supply covers our lack.
Where we are unable, He is able.
17 When Abram was 99 years old, Yehovah appeared to him.
He said to Abram, “I am El Shaddai. Live in my presence with integrity.
2 I will give you my promise,[a] and I will give you very many descendants.”
3 Immediately, Abram bowed with his face touching the ground, and again Elohim spoke to him, 4 “My promise is still with you.”
“You will become the father of many nations.”
5 So your name will no longer be Abram [Exalted Father], but Abraham [Father of Many] because I have made you a father of many nations.
6 I will give you many descendants.
Many nations and kings will come from you.
7 I will make my promise to you and your descendants for generations to come as an everlasting promise. I will be your Elohim and the God of your descendants.
8 I am also giving this land where you are living—all of Canaan—to you and your descendants as your permanent possession.
And I will be your Elohim.”
God repeats this promise to Abraham on several occasions.
He is the Mighty One who pours out sacrificially.
He is all-sufficient and bountiful – El Shaddai – He is God in power to supply all our needs.
He has power over life and death.
He is the God of unlimited power – Is anything too difficult for Him?
God doesn’t need our help to carry out His promises.
He has everything He needs and everything we need.
He is almighty and sufficient, He is capable.
He can sustain us until deliverance comes.
Let’s encourage one another to trust in His deliverance and supply.
He is the Breath of God breathed into Adam, He breathed the Holy Spirit over the disciples, over Sarah and Abraham.
Hey represents the number 5, which represents grace – Hey was added to Sarai and Abram’s name.
Our mistakes do not cancel out God’s power.
God overrules our insufficiency with His sufficiency!
Praise God! Thank God for His mercy and grace!