El Shaddai: The God Who Is More Than Enough

EL SHADDAI: THE GOD WHO IS MORE THAN ENOUGH

Gen. 17:1-8

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. Dear God: "Please send a new baby for Mommy. The new baby you sent last week cries too much." Debbie, 7.

2. Dear God: "Who did you make smarter? Boys or girls? My sister and I want to know." Jimmy, 6.

3. Dear God: "How many angels are there in heaven? I would like to be the first kid in my class to know the answer." Norma, 8.

4. Dear God: "This is my prayer. Could you please give my brother some brains. So far he doesn't have any." Angela, 8.

5. Dear God: "Thank you for the nice day today. You even fooled the TV weatherman." Hank, 7.

B. TEXT

1 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. 2 And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: 4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. 8 Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” NKJV

C. THESIS

1. This is the fifth time God supernaturally communicated with Abram: 12:1 – spoke; 12:7 – appeared to him; 13:14 – spoke; 15:1 – came in vision; 17:1 – appeared to Abram.

2. The word "appeared" means "to see." God appeared in His Shekinah glory (became visible in glory).

3. Abram fell on his face (v. 3). This was the first revelation of God that he had received in 13 years!

4. Purpose: to renew the covenant (people, land, blessings) with Abraham.

I. GOD DESCIBES HIMSELF

A. INDICATES HIS STRENGTH

1. This was the first usage of El Shaddai – "God the Strong or Mighty." This must have been one of God's worldwide titles because it was known to Balaam (Num. 24:4,16) and to Job (used 31 times). It was said in Exodus 6:2-3 to be the name by which God was known to the patriarchs.

2. Not only is God the Creator (Elohim, Gen. 1:1) and the God of salvation (Jehovah, Ex. 6:3), He’s also the God who can compel nature to do what is contrary to itself.

3. The Pulpit Commentary says it’s (Volume 1, p. 232.) He has the power to realize his promises, even when the order of nature presents no prospect of their fulfillment and the powers of nature are insufficient to provide it! He exerts His power to violently wrest nature to His will, if necessary.

4. Why God revealed Himself as El Shaddai now:

a. Gen. 15 – God had promised Abram a specific son.

b. Gen. 16 – Abram resorts to human means, i.e., takes Hagar, the slave woman, and begets Ishmael, father of all the Arabs! (Lot's daughters were the Moabites and the Ammonites. Abraham's fourth son was Midian).

c. Gal. 4:19. Doing things in the power of the flash always ends up being a curse!

5. "El Shaddai" – emphasizes God's might and ability to perform what He's promised, in spite of Abram's "own body now dead" and "the deadness of Sarah's womb." From them came an innumerable posterity.

6. Don't use worldly methods to get things done:

a. Gripe at your spouse. Instead, pray.

b. Run for the pill bottle; instead, pray.

c. Make major decisions by yourself. Pride

7. God is the Mighty One – He's able and willing to fulfill His Word if only we’ll dare to trust Him!

B. CONCLUSION

Taking all this together, God revealed himself hereto Abraham as the "God who is more than enough!"

II. GOD’S REQUIREMENT FOR INTERVENTION

A. “WALK BEFORE ME”

1. Walk in the consciousness that I am with you every moment in supernatural power.

2. Psalm 139:1-4; Matt. 12:36-37; Heb. 4:12-13.

3. We can't fool God. He knows everything. Man looks on the outward appearance, God looks upon the heart.

4. Speak, think, and act – in everything – as those that are always under His eye.

5. Set God always before you (Ps. 16:8). Practice the presence.