The name El-Shaddai is used only seven times in the Old Testament, and yet, is a very powerful name. It means “All Sufficient One” or “Lord God Almighty”. It is first used in Genesis 17, which says:

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life. I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants.”

Genesis 17: 1-2

In Genesis 28, we see that Isaac blessed Jacob in the name of El-Shaddai:

May God Almighty bless you and give you many children. And may your descendants multiply and become many nations! May God pass on to you and your descendants the blessings He promised to Abraham. May you own this land where you are now living as a foreigner, for God gave this land to Abraham.

Genesis 28:3-4

The next time God is referred to as El-Shaddai, He confirmed His covenant with Jacob:

Now that Jacob had returned from Paddan-aram, God appeared to him again at Bethel. God blessed him, saying, “Your name is Jacob, but you will not be called Jacob any longer. From now on your name will be Israel.” So God renamed him Israel.

 Then God said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Be fruitful and multiply. You will become a great nation, even many nations. Kings will be among your descendants! And I will give you the land I once gave to Abraham and Isaac. Yes, I will give it to you and your descendants after you.” Then God went up from the place where he had spoken to Jacob.

Genesis 35:9-13

Throughout Genesis, whenever is God is referred to as El-Shaddai, He reminds us and reaffirms that He is God Almighty, and the All Sufficient One, the only One who can fulfil the promise He made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; it is not because of the Israelites’ faith or good deeds, but by the almighty power of God and His sufficient grace that all people can be saved.

In the book of Exodus, God assured Moses that God Almighty, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, would save the Israelites from oppression and slavery in Egypt; God, our El-Shaddai, has saved us from the oppression and slavery of sin, and in Him we have eternal life.

Consider God as El-Shaddai.

Take some time to meditate on this aspect of God and worship Him for being El-Shaddai.

Write down what it means for God to be El-Shaddai in your life.