Day 16. El Shaddai

El Shaddai is a name first used for God in Genesis 17. It is important as Christians that we realize who we belong to and who we serve. Abram of the city of Ur was a man of great wealth and possessions, but God called him to leave his home and the comforts of an idolatrous land to trust and obey God. God made Abram promises, including blessings, a land where his descendants would live, and descendants as numerous as the dust of the earth who would become a great nation. Abraham went. This is a huge fact not to overlook. God called, Abraham obeyed. This is faith in action. Abraham didn't complete 1,000 pages of discipleship paper forms. He didn't perform service projects to help his standing before God. He simply believed God's promise and obeyed. 

One big detail of Abram's life was that he would wait 25 years before the promise of having a son would be fulfilled after he was 99 years old! Along the way, God proved faithful to Abram, and Abram trusted God in spite of faltering at times. He had a son Isaac to Hagar which was not God's plan, and he told a half truth about Sarai being his sister twice to protect himself from being killed by kings for his beautiful wife’s sake. Abram sometimes failed to trust God to protect Him. Abram wasn't perfect. But in spite of his shortcomings and the difficult journey, God was still faithful to Abram, and Abram was still prepared to trust the Lord. In Genesis 17 after learning that Abraham was 99 and Sarai over 75, God revealed something about Himself to Abram when he said "I am El Shaddai" or "God Almighty" (Gen 17:1). God then told Abram to walk before him and be blameless. God was not telling Abram to be completely morally perfect here, it is too lofty a command for a fallen man. Being blameless for Abram meant Radical Obedience and Supreme Trust! Abram, after hearing God's exhortation fell on his face, and talked with God. 

Think about Abram's response. He was bowing down in worship to God almighty. Hearing His commands, and ready to do His will. Jesus is God Almighty. He taught His disciples to pray saying, "Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your will be done, Your kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:9-10). Abram heard God's name; God Almighty. He heard his will; walk blameless before me. He bowed worshipping God in prayer. Then, he followed through.

Humble yourself today before Almighty God, and trust His promises. Don't earn your way to Him. Don't scheme your way around Him. Simply bow down before Him, trust, and obey.

Psalm 51:16-17
For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;
You are not pleased with burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.