El Shaddai

Bible Passage: Genesis 17:1

I. Verse 1a “When Abram was 99 years old”

1. Verse 16:16 (the end of ch. 16) we read “Now Abram was 86 years old when Hagar gave birth to Ishmael”
2. For 13 years Abram and Sarai lived in Canaan in anticipation or frustration for God’s promise to come about!
3. Abram and Sarai waited about 25 years for God’s promise to come true—from Ur to Haran to Canaan

a. Most likely, God brought them to a place where they would not attribute a potential pregnancy to a natural cause
b. Most likely, God wanted to make them 100% sure that it is God who performed the miracle—a child when Abram was 100 years old
c. Someone said, “God’s opportunity does not come until man’s extremity is reached”

4. God decides when and how to fulfill what He promises
5. God does not need to change His decisions based on our urgency or are we able to change His mind

II. God appears to Abram and introduces Himself to him as “El Shaddai” (verse 1b)

1. The actual meaning of this expression is still unclear
2. Church Father Jerome translated this expression as “God Almighty” in Latin (most translations follow his lead)
3. It can also mean: “self-sufficient,” “sovereign,” “mountain,” “God who fulfills promises,” “God who judges,” “blesses,” etc.
4. With the word shad at the end, the expression could mean “I’m God of fertility and life”
5. In other words, “I’m the God of breasts” where life is transferred to those that are dependent of Him
6. Abram receives a fresh revelation about his God who is the source of fertility, life, and power
7. The expression “El Shaddai” is a descriptive expression, not a proper noun

III. Verse 1c: “Conduct yourself in a way I approve”

1. Abram was to live  in light of the fresh revelation of who God is in such a way that his life will find approval from God
2. In other words, Abram was to live in response to El Shaddai
3. Conduct yourself before God and completely be devoted to Him

IV. God made a covenant/treaty/agreement with Abram (verses 1-2)

1. “I will make my covenant between me and you”

a. God was the initiator of the covenant (benefactor—El Shaddai)
b. Abram was the beneficiary of the covenant
c. It is not a covenant between two equals, but a Superior graciously showering an inferior with benefits

2. God binds Himself to Abram as his benefactor “I will give you a multitude of descendants”—

V. God’s covenant with Abram is full of promises

1. That Abram would become exceedingly fruitful, and that nations and kings would come out of him (verse 2)
2. That Abram would become the father of multitude of nations (verse 4-5)
3. That God would make Abram extremely fruitful (verse 6)
4. That God would make Abram into nations and kings would emerge out of them (verse 6)
5. That God would extend Abram’s descendants beyond his lifetime (verse 7)
6. That God would give the land of Canaan to Abram and his descendants (verse 8)
7. Though the covenant starts with one individual the scope appears to be global

VI. Abram responds to El Shaddai with complete surrender “Abram fell on his face” (verse 3)

1. The first response to His revelation
2. When God shows undeserved grace to Abram, there is no words except overwhelming worship (the best worship)
3. Worship is always the response to the awesomeness of God

VII. God’s covenant with Abram does not have conditions but Abram needs to receive/respond to God’s covenant offering (verses 9-14)

1. Entering a covenant with God is the greatest privilege to Abram, who does not contribute to the covenant relationship except appropriate it
2. Along with him, all males in his household needed to be circumcised (verse 10)

a. An external sign of appropriating and keeping the covenant
b. In other words, circumcision symbolizes their acceptance of God’s offer
c. It represents purification and dedication to verse 2 “conduct your life before me that is fully dedicated to the revelation of who God is”

3. Every time Abram and the male members of his family look at the circumcision, it reminds them of God’s eternal covenant with them and their commitment to verse 2, i.e., “conduct your life before me that is fully dedicated to the revelation of who God is”
4. It is a symbol of purity, separation, and loyalty to the One who made covenant with them
5. Abraham was 99 years old when he underwent circumcision!
6. (Baptism and Communion are perpetual signs for born again believers, but circumcision of our hearts by the Holy Spirit of God is what is emphasized in the NT Rom 2:28-29; Deut 10:16; Jer 4:14)
7. Abram and his wife Sarai need to have new names: Abraham and Sarah (verse 15-16)

a. New names show new beginning
b. The old ones are connected to the past identities; but the new ones are descriptive ones

i. Abram means “exalted father” which goes back to Terah
ii. Abraham means “father of many nations” (verse 5)
iii. Sarah means “princes”—she will be the mother of many kings

VIII. God’s covenant requires “obedient response”

1. Abraham recognized who he is before God— Abram bowed down with his face to the ground (verses 3, 17)
2. Before the LORD El Shaddai, nothing is impossible; therefore, there is no place for human rationality or doubt (verses 17-22)
3. Abraham does not delay obeying God’s requirements (verses 23-27)

IX. Abraham and Sarah were blessed with Isaac, through Isaac the twelve tribes of Israel
 
X. Kings and nations were born out of Abraham and Sarah
 
XI. The real Son of Promise is Jesus who has made a covenant with us

1. Luke 22:19 Then he took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
2. Luke 22:20 And in the same way he took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood
3. For Christians, a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true circumcision something external and physical. Rather, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart. It is spiritual and not literal (Rom 2:28-29; Col 2:11-12)
4. Jesus is the new covenant through whom we are in relationship with God
5. Just as Abraham fell on his face before God, offer to the Father a true worship as we see in Rom 12:1

Takeaway:

Lead a life in response to God’s revelation of Himself through Jesus that is worthy of His relationship with us