El Shaddai Pt 2 "The Almighty All-Sufficient God Who Protects And Provides" Series

Purpose: To magnify God's ability to do everything He promises.

Aim: I want the listener to gain great confidence in God's ultimate plan to bless His own.

INTRODUCTION: We all have needs, those needs may be physical, financial, or emotional like joy or happiness, but every one of us has needs. How can our needs be met?

We are studying what the Hebrew name El Shaddai means because we need to know that we are protected and provided for. The truth is that only the Lord can meet our every need.

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe. (NAU)

In our culture today I fear that we generally look to government instead of God for our protection and provisions.

We are now learning that our government is more than 13 trillion dollars broke. Not only that, but we have borrowed trillions of dollars from other countries just to keep our economy going. Just like Greece and Spain and Portugal found out this year, government can't forever spend money it doesn't have.

Our country's present financial problems could wind up being a real blessing if we will just learn that we should not depend on the government to take care of us. Not only is the government unable to take care of us, we can't even take care of ourselves. This is why the Bible says that, "The name of the LORD is a strong tower"

Let's learn to run to El Shaddai for our safety.

REVIEW:

I. The Meaning of El Shaddai

A. El: "mighty power"

B. Shaddai: "all sufficient provider"

II. The Message of El Shaddai

Gen.17:1-8; 15-22 A. El Shaddai supplies the impossible

-as God promised a son to Abraham and Sarah who saw the fulfillment when Sarah was 90 years old.

Gen.28:1-8 B. El Shaddai blesses the obedient

-as Jacob refused to marry a pagan woman

Gen.35:1-4; 9-12 C. El Shaddai doesn't share worship

-as Jacob turned away from all false worship before God changed his name to "Prince with God"

LESSON:

Gen.43:11-15 D. El Shaddai will always be enough

[Vs.11-12] Joseph had been sold into slavery by his brothers many years earlier. A famine forced Jacob to send his remaining sons (except his favorite son Benjamin) to Egypt to buy food. In the meantime Joseph had been appointed second in command in Egypt.

The first time they came to Egypt to buy food Joseph kept Simeon in prison as security so that the next time they came they would bring Benjamin as well. To test their honesty Joseph had secretly returned their money in their sacks of grain.

[Vs.13-15] In his old age Israel had finally come to the place where he was willing to fully trust El Shaddai: "if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved."

There is a famine in the land of promise, but Jacob knows that there is no famine in the name El Shaddai.

"Will I accept my circumstances as allowed by God, understanding that everything is orchestrated not by chance but by an omnipotent God Who seeks to bring about my highest good?" [1]

Gen. 48:1-5, 15-16, 21 E. El Shaddai never changes His promises

[Vs.1-5] Israel and all of his family were now living in Egypt, but this was not their ultimate home. Israel wanted to make sure that the promises of El Shaddai were not forgotten.

[Vs.15-16] Israel testified that through all of his life God had cared for him the way a caring shepherd would care for his sheep.

[Vs.21] Here Israel reminds Joseph that Egypt is not his home.

Philippians 3:19--20 [there are false teachers] whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; (NAU)

Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. (NAU)

Ex. 6:1-8 F. El Shaddai moves mightily when He moves

[Vs.1-4] El Shaddai fulfills His promises even if there has been a long delay.

[Vs.5-8] This "Almighty all-sufficient God who protects and provides" who is also the "Eternally Self-existent one" is perfectly in charge of all things.

Look again at verse 3. First we must be convinced that the Lord is ABLE to provide (El Shaddai), and then we must be convinced that the Lord is WILLING to provide (Yahweh). Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe [#1 God is able] that He is and [#2 God is willing] that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. (NAU)

Ezek. 10:1-5 G. El Shaddai's power is awesome