Bill's Bible Blog

🙏 The following 6 devotionals on El Shaddai, ” God Almighty,” and Shaddai, the “Almighty” pull from:

1. The the 6 occurrences in Genesis, which give us historical context,
2. Six passages about the Almighty in Job, which are very instructive, and
3. Six episodes of worship of the Lord God Almighty in heaven as described in Revelation.

It will be the ones from Revelation that are most appropriate to pray back to God and Jesus as worship.

🤔 REFLECT: God as the ‘Almighty,’ Shaddai, was already known in Abram’s time from a Middle Eastern oral tale of suffering from persecution, called in the Hebrew “Iyov,” that was later codified and expanded into what we know as “The Book of Job.” Thirty-one of the 48 Old Testament uses of Shaddai appear in Job.

Up until Genesis 17, the Name of the God that had called Abram to leave his home and family was not stated, instead, whenever God was mentioned, as in Genesis 13:18, YHWH is used in the existing manuscripts. Some Bible interpreters point to these passages as indications that YHWH was a known Name of God prior to the burning bush revelation in Exodus. However, that interpretation directly contradicts God’s own statement in Exodus 6:3,

Instead, history points to a movement among Jewish scribes called the “Yahweists.” They went back to Genesis and changed many references using God’s other names to YHWH, so there was no doubt this was the same God of Israel. Since that is how the existing manuscripts read now, thousands of years later, that is how they are translated.

I. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
Questions to ponder: 🤔
1. What did God do?
2. What did the people do?
3. What did God promise to do in the future?
4. What did God expect the people to do in the future?

Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said,
“I am El-Shaddai, God Almighty;

Walk before Me, and be blameless.
• I will establish My covenant between Me and you,
• and I will multiply you exceedingly.”

“As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you will be the father of a multitude of nations.
No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham;
For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.
• I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and
• I will make nations of you, and
• Kings will come forth from you. 

I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.

I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. . .”

But God said, “Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.”

🤔 REFLECT:  What word(s) or phrase(s) did you notice that God, El Shaddai, used over and over again in His message?

What do these repetitions reveal to you about God Almighty?

___________________
II. 🎓 INSTRUCTIONAL from Job:

In Job there is a lot of correct theology, but some very incorrect assumptions about the why of what happened to Job. While the things said about God in Job are generally true, the Almighty is infinitely so much more than our finite minds can grasp.

🤔 Question to ponder, what do we learn about God Almighty from this passage?

“Blessed is the man who God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.” (THEME)

In famine He will deliver you from death,
• and in battle from the slash of the sword.
You will be protected from the harsh tongue,
• and need not fear when destruction draws nears.
In fact, you will laugh at destruction and famine!

You need not fear even wild animals.
For you will have a treaty with the fields,
• So that the wild animals will be at peace with you.
You will know that your house is secure;
•  You will take stock of your property and find nothing missing.
You will know that your children will be many,
• and your descendents will be plentiful like the grass.
You will come to the grave in full vigor,
• like sheaves gathered in harvest time.

🤔 REFLECT: These statements could be interpreted as promises. What do you think you would have to do to receive these promises from God?
_______________________

Dear Jesus Christ ✝️, my Lord and Savior:
You are the Faithful Witness for God,
• Your and my Heavenly Father.
You are the firstborn from the dead. 🌅

Thank You for giving me this assurance that I too will rise from the dead on the Last Day.
All power and authority have been given to You, Jesus, ✝️
• You are the ruler of all the kings of the earth. 👑
I submit myself to Your rule over me as my Lord. 🛐

Thank You for loving me, Jesus, 💖
• and for redeeming me from my sins by Your blood.❤️
Thank You, Jesus, for sanctifying me 🤍
• and making me a part of Your kingdom of priests to God, Your Father.

( To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever❗️)

Jesus, you’ve promised that this shall be so,
🌎 world without end, ♾️
🙏 I accept it in faith and believe. 🛐
👋Amen and amen❗️