Trusting El Shaddai: Power, Care, and Redemption
Summary
In Genesis 17, God reveals Himself to Abram as El Shaddai—God Almighty. This name is rich with meaning, combining the ideas of overwhelming power and tender, nurturing care. El points to God as the supreme being, while Shaddai can mean both “to overpower” and “to provide as a mother nourishes her child.” Together, El Shaddai is the God whose sovereign strength is matched by His gentle provision. This truth is not just theological; it’s deeply personal and practical for every season of life.
Abram, at 99 years old, was burdened by the unfulfilled promise of a child. For 24 years, he waited, wrestling with doubt and the temptation to take matters into his own hands. Yet God, as El Shaddai, was faithful to His word, even when the situation seemed impossible. Like Abram, we often carry burdens that feel too heavy or too delayed, but God invites us to cast our anxieties on Him, trusting in His care and timing.
Naomi’s story in Ruth shows how burdens, if not surrendered, can harden into bitterness. After losing her husband and sons, Naomi returned to Bethlehem, renaming herself Mara—“bitter”—and blaming El Shaddai for her pain. Yet, even in her bitterness, God was working a redemptive plan through Ruth, leading to blessings Naomi could not have foreseen. We are reminded that holding onto bitterness blinds us to God’s ongoing work and robs us of joy.
Job’s life is a testament to trusting El Shaddai when utterly beaten down. He lost everything—wealth, family, health—yet refused to curse God. Job’s friends insisted his suffering was punishment, but Job maintained his integrity, declaring, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” Sometimes suffering is not a result of our sin but part of a larger, unseen spiritual reality. In those moments, faith in El Shaddai sustains us.
Finally, Jacob’s later years were marked by blessing. After years of loss and grief, he saw God’s promises fulfilled in ways he never expected. Even in seasons of abundance, we need El Shaddai—not just in crisis, but in gratitude and humility, recognizing our ongoing dependence on Him.
Whether burdened, bitter, beaten down, or blessed, every person needs El Shaddai. His power and tenderness are sufficient for every circumstance, inviting us to trust Him more deeply.
Key Takeaways
- God’s name El Shaddai reveals both His overwhelming power and His nurturing care. He is not only able to accomplish the impossible but also intimately provides for our deepest needs, much like a mother nourishes her child. This dual nature invites us to trust Him with both our greatest challenges and our daily needs. [04:19]
- When burdens linger and God’s promises seem delayed, faith means casting our anxieties on Him rather than taking matters into our own hands. Abram’s long wait for a child shows that God’s timing often stretches our patience, but persistent prayer and surrender open us to His peace and provision. Trusting El Shaddai means believing He is at work even when we cannot see the outcome. [10:44]
- Unresolved burdens can harden into bitterness, as seen in Naomi’s life. Blaming God for our pain closes our hearts to His ongoing work and can cause us to miss unexpected blessings. Releasing our pain to El Shaddai allows us to move from bitterness to gratitude, recognizing that God’s redemptive purposes often unfold in ways we do not anticipate. [16:37]
- Suffering is not always a direct result of personal sin; sometimes, it is part of a larger spiritual reality beyond our understanding. Job’s story reminds us that faith in El Shaddai is not conditional on our circumstances. Even when we are beaten down and answers are elusive, steadfast trust in God’s character is our anchor. [24:17]
- Seasons of blessing are also times to remember our dependence on El Shaddai. Jacob’s story teaches us not to reserve faith for moments of crisis alone, but to cultivate gratitude and humility when life is good. Recognizing God’s hand in our blessings keeps us grounded and ready to trust Him in every season. [27:29]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[02:53] - Introduction to El Shaddai
[04:19] - The Meaning of El Shaddai
[05:57] - Abram’s Burden and God’s Promise
[07:15] - The Long Wait: 24 Years Without a Child
[08:28] - Taking Matters into Our Own Hands
[09:39] - The Consequences of Impatience
[10:44] - Casting Our Anxieties on God
[12:12] - Peace Through Prayer
[13:28] - Naomi’s Story: From Burden to Bitterness
[14:56] - The Danger of Bitterness
[16:37] - God’s Redemptive Plan for Naomi
[18:45] - Personal Story: Worry and Release
[21:00] - Job: Suffering and the Name El Shaddai
[21:41] - The Retribution Principle Challenged
[23:19] - The Unseen Spiritual Battle
[24:17] - Job’s Faith in the Midst of Suffering
[25:29] - Jacob’s Blessing and El Shaddai
[27:29] - Trusting God in Seasons of Blessing
[28:27] - Conclusion: Everyone Needs El Shaddai
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: "El Shaddai—God Almighty: Power and Tenderness"
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### Bible Reading
- Genesis 17:1-8 (God reveals Himself to Abram as El Shaddai)
- Ruth 1:19-21; 4:13-17 (Naomi’s bitterness and God’s redemptive plan)
- Job 13:15 (“Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him”)
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### Observation Questions
1. In Genesis 17, what does God promise Abram when He introduces Himself as El Shaddai? What is Abram’s situation at this point in his life? [[05:57]]
2. How does Naomi describe her experience with God after returning to Bethlehem? What new name does she choose for herself, and why? [[14:56]]
3. According to the sermon, how many times is the name El Shaddai used in the book of Job, and what is Job’s response to his suffering? [[21:00]]
4. What does Jacob say about El Shaddai when he blesses Joseph’s sons in Genesis 48? [[25:29]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. The name El Shaddai combines the ideas of overwhelming power and nurturing care. Why do you think God chose to reveal Himself to Abram with this particular name at that moment? [[04:19]]
2. Naomi’s story shows how burdens can turn into bitterness. What does her journey teach us about the dangers of holding onto pain and blaming God? [[14:56]]
3. Job’s friends believed his suffering was a punishment for hidden sin, but Job disagreed. What does this reveal about common misunderstandings of suffering and God’s character? [[21:41]]
4. Jacob experienced blessing after years of loss and grief. What does his story suggest about the importance of remembering God’s faithfulness in both hard and good times? [[27:29]]
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### Application Questions
1. Abram waited 24 years for God’s promise to be fulfilled. Is there something in your life you’ve been waiting on God for? How do you typically respond when God’s timing stretches your patience? [[07:15]]
2. The sermon encouraged us to “cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you.” What is one specific burden or anxiety you need to release to God this week? How will you do that practically? [[10:44]]
3. Naomi’s bitterness blinded her to God’s ongoing work. Have you ever let disappointment or pain harden into bitterness? What helped you move forward, or what could help you now? [[16:37]]
4. Job trusted God even when he didn’t understand his suffering. When have you faced a situation where you had to trust God without answers? What did that look like for you? [[24:17]]
5. Jacob’s story reminds us to depend on God not just in crisis, but also in seasons of blessing. When life is going well, how do you keep your heart humble and grateful? Are there ways you can acknowledge God’s hand in your current blessings? [[27:29]]
6. The sermon mentioned that holding onto burdens can lead to wasted years in bitterness. Is there an area of your life where you sense you’re “stuck” because of unresolved pain or disappointment? What step could you take toward releasing that to El Shaddai? [[16:37]]
7. El Shaddai is both powerful and tender. Which aspect of God’s character do you find it easier to trust—His power or His care? Why? How might you grow in trusting both? [[04:19]]
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Devotional
Day 1: God’s Sovereign Strength and Tender Care (El Shaddai)
God reveals Himself as El Shaddai—God Almighty—demonstrating both sovereign power and nurturing provision. He is the One who stands outside of space, time, and matter, able to overpower any obstacle, yet He also cares for His people with the tenderness of a mother providing for her child. In every season of life, whether in strength or weakness, God’s character is both mighty and compassionate, inviting us to trust Him fully with our deepest needs and burdens. [04:19]
Genesis 17:1-2 (ESV)
When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.”
Reflection: Where in your life do you need to trust both God’s power and His tender care today? What would it look like to bring that area to Him in prayer?
Day 2: Trusting God’s Promises in the Waiting
Abram waited 24 years for God’s promise of a child to be fulfilled, enduring long seasons of uncertainty and burden. Even when circumstances seemed impossible, God’s faithfulness did not waver. Like Abram, we may feel weighed down by unanswered prayers or delayed hopes, but God invites us to bring our anxieties to Him, trusting that He cares deeply and is working in ways we cannot always see. [08:28]
Genesis 17:3-5 (ESV)
Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall 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.”
Reflection: What is one burden or unanswered prayer you are carrying right now? Will you take a moment to honestly bring it before God, trusting Him with the outcome?
Day 3: Releasing Bitterness and Blame
Naomi’s story reminds us that burdens can turn into bitterness when we blame God instead of trusting Him. Even in deep pain and loss, God was working out a redemptive plan for Naomi, blessing her through Ruth and ultimately making her the great-grandmother of King David. Holding on to bitterness can imprison us, but releasing our pain to El Shaddai opens us to His restoration and peace. [14:56]
Ruth 1:19-21 (ESV)
So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”
Reflection: Is there a place in your heart where pain has turned into bitterness? What would it look like to release that to God and trust Him for healing?
Day 4: Trusting God When Life Doesn’t Make Sense
Job’s life was marked by unimaginable loss and suffering, yet in the midst of his pain, he declared, “Though he slay me, I will hope in him.” Job’s story shows that God’s ways are often beyond our understanding, and suffering is not always a result of personal failure. Even when we are beat down and confused, we are called to trust in El Shaddai, knowing that He is sovereign and good, working out a greater story than we can see. [24:17]
Job 13:15 (ESV)
Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face.
Reflection: When have you faced a situation that made no sense and felt overwhelming? How can you choose to trust God’s goodness and sovereignty in that place today?
Day 5: Remembering God in Seasons of Blessing
Jacob’s life was filled with hardship and loss, but in his old age, he recognized the hand of El Shaddai in blessing and restoration. Even when life is good and blessings abound, we are called to remember our dependence on God and to trust Him not only in crisis but also in times of peace. True faith is not just foxhole faith—it is daily trust in God’s faithfulness, whether in the valley or on the mountaintop. [27:29]
Genesis 48:3-4 (ESV)
And Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples and will give this land to your offspring after you for an everlasting possession.’”
Reflection: In what ways has God blessed you recently? How can you intentionally acknowledge Him and express gratitude, even in the midst of abundance?
Quotes
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