Sat, Dec 24th - 11:58AM

"And when Abram was ninety-nine years old , the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be perfect."

   Here in Genesis 17:1 we find the title "Almighty God."  This comes from the Hebrew El Shaddai.  God (El) signifies the "Strong One", the qualifying word Shaddai is formed from the Hebrew word "shad," the breast.  Shaddai therefore means primarily "the breasted." God is "Shaddai," because He is the Nourisher, the Strength-giver, and so, in a secondary sense, the Satisfier, who pours Himself into believing lives.  El Shaddai is that name of God which establishes Him as the Strength-giver and Satisfier of His people. It is on every account to be regretted that "Shaddai" was translated "Almighty." The primary name El or Elohim sufficiently signifies almightiness. "All-sufficient" would far better express both the Hebrew meaning and the characteristic use of the name in Scripture.

   The All-Sufficient God was about to enable old Abram and his old wife Sarai to have a child.  Nothing is impossible for El Shaddai to accomplish.  As we read the remainder of Genesis 17 we find that names were to be altered, circumcision was to begin with all of the males within Abram's household, including himself.  A brand new covenant was about to begin. 

  As Abram and Sarai were about to discover to their astonishment and glee, El Shaddai not only enriches, but makes fruitful.  God Almighty chose this moment in time to demonstrate His power, His love, and His grace, by bringing a child into this world via this elderly couple who were well past their prime years for having children.

   As the Giver of fruitfulness, El Shaddai chastens His people.  The hand of El Shaddai falls upon Job, not in judgment, but in purifying him to greater fruitfulness (Job 5:17-25).  The moral connection of chastening with fruit-bearing can be seen in John 15 where Jesus speaks about Him as the vine and all believers being the branches meant to bear fruit.  If any branch fails to produce fruit it shall first be pruned in order to stimulate production of fruit.  But if that fails to produce fruit then it shall be cut off from the vine and destroyed by fire.  Hebrews 12:10 informs us all that Christ chastens us in order that we may be able to share in His holiness.  El Shaddai remains steadfast in His desire to nourish us, to feed us, to strengthen us, so that we may share in His glory. 

   In Genesis 35:11 it can be seen that El Shaddai comes to Jacob to inform him to be fruitful and multiply, that He shall nourish Jacob and enable him to become a nation, and a company of nations.  It is at this point in time that Jacob becomes renamed as Israel and shortly thereafter Rachel, his wife, dies during hard labor giving birth to Benjamin. 

   Here at Christmas we celebrate the birth of Christ Jesus, our Redeemer.  But He is also Almighty God, El Shaddai.  He is the One who enriches our lives, increases our faith, enlarges our horizons, provides us with strength and the words to speak to those who do not believe.  Christ Jesus, our Savior and Deliverer, is to be worshipped in truth and spirit every day.  But let's especially praise His mighty wisdom and love on Christmas Day, a day when physical darkness is just about at its greatest.  For what better way to push the darkness back but by proclaiming the coming of the Light of heaven into the world of mankind?  Holy is the Lamb, Worthy is His Name!  Amen.

~Eric