When Abraham was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be thou perfect” (Genesis 17:1). The word Almighty God is translated from the Hebrew El Shaddai, and it means the all-powerful one. By introducing himself as El Shaddai, he was giving Abraham a new revelation of his power. Interestingly, when he said this, Abraham’s wife had passed child bearing age, after the Lord had promised she would have a Son. Naturally and biologically speaking, it was 100% impossible for Sarah to fall pregnant, her womb was dead. “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 Sara's womb” (Romans 4:19).
Prior to this, Abraham did not know that God was El Shaddai, he never had this revelation. It was the first time in his life, that his faith would be challenged to believe the impossible. He would be required to believe that El Shaddai would make alive the dead womb of his wife, and that she would conceive on the same womb. What a faith challenge, nothing like this had been done in history, so there was nothing he could use as a point of reference. If nobody had received this kind of miracle before, he would be the first. The Bible says, “…..he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead……” (Romans 4:17). Of all other powers, it is only the power of El shaddai that quickens the dead, every other power in the universe is subject to dearth.
All the power behind El Shaddai has been vested on the name Jesus, when we call the name of Jesus, all creation responds and every dead thing will be quickened back to life. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do (John 14:13). even the devils are subject unto us through thy name (Luke 10:17). And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils (Mark 16:17).
