El Shadday-Monday

If you haven’t done this week’s assignment, then you may want to come back to this, as I am about to share my thoughts on the first two questions. This is where God spoke to me today, and I felt I needed to share.

(Side note, I am not super smart. I spend a lot of time googling, looking in my Bible history books, concordances, and commentaries, or picking the brains of a couple of the really super smart Bible men in my life to compile what I bring to you all. So please don’t think I am some sort of Bible wiz. )

We are first introduced to the name El Shadday (or El Shaddai) in Genesis 17:1-2

“When Abram was 99 years old, Yahweh appeared to him. He said to Abram, “I am El Shadday. Live in my presence with integrity. I will give you my promise, and I will give you very many descendants.”

The first question we were asked this week was why we thought this name was linked to the covenant he made with Abraham.

If you haven’t come up with your answer yet, I’ll wait.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Ok, so let’s see if you made the same connection I did today.

Jump over to Luke chapter 3 and start in verse 23.

(Now, I grew up with an old NKJV in my hand, so we would call this the “begats.” But bear with me. Read the list or just the names in the list really quickly.)

Did you see it?

We start with Jesus and then go backwards in his family tree. We go through a lot of names that I don’t totally recognize, then we see David, Boaz, Judah, Jacob, Isaac, and…….Abraham! You can keep going all the way back to Adam, but for today and this lesson, we are focusing on Abraham.

El Shadday, God Almighty, made a covenant with Abraham. That he would be the father of many nations. Only ONE GOD can make that kind of covenant.

I will give you many descendants.

Many nations and KINGS will come from you.

I will be your God and the God of your descendants.

If you read further in Genesis 17, you will see where God said that he will confirm the covenant through Abraham’s not-yet-born son, Isaac. (vs19).

El Shadday made a covenant with Abraham that his lineage would be the lineage of Jesus, Yeshua, our Yahweh!

So why do you think God linked this particular name to the covenant that he made with Abraham and his descendants?

Because God knew we needed a Savior. God’s plan for Jesus was ALREADY in place! Jesus wasn’t the plan B, he wasn’t even plan A. He was THE plan from the beginning.

Not only did he make a covenant with him, but he also changed his name and Sarai’s name. They are no longer called Abram [Exalted Father] but Abraham [Father of Many] and Sarai [my princess] but Sarah [Princess]. She was no longer just the princess of her house but the Princess.

Their new names came with the reminder that God made a covenant with them. They were to be the beginning of a great family history.

How would you have responded? Honestly, I may have required a change of clothing at the mere appearance of El Shadday. But to know that He considered me for such a covenant would be humbling, to say the least.

I hope you meet El Shadday today as you read, and you have a glimpse of his Might and Power.

Come back later and tell me, where did you see El Shadday today?

Have a great day with Jesus!