{"id":13279,"date":"2013-07-12T00:30:09","date_gmt":"2013-07-12T04:30:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/?p=13279"},"modified":"2013-07-13T10:28:38","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T14:28:38","slug":"i-am-chapter-1-day-5-the-great-i-ams-character","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/2013\/07\/12\/i-am-chapter-1-day-5-the-great-i-ams-character\/","title":{"rendered":"“I AM” Chapter 1 – Day 5 The Great I AM’s Character"},"content":{"rendered":"

Who I <\/i>am—<\/i>Coleen—can be described by many names: wife, mom, gramma, daughter, sister, friend, worshipper, singer, baker, writer, pray-er, crafter, lover, listener, etc.\u00a0 The Great I AM<\/i><\/strong> has described Himself throughout the Scriptures with many names\u2014Yahweh (YHWH), ELohim, Adonai, LORD, Jehovah, JAH, EL Shaddai….\u00a0 I believe He has used these (and additional) names to graciously help us to understand more of His character.\u00a0 The Great I AM<\/i><\/strong> makes Himself known to us through the words of His Word, as well as\u00a0through His Creation, through His Spirit, through His Son our Lord Jesus Christ, through the words of the prophets—in oh so many ways!<\/p>\n

One of my most favorite characteristics of I AM<\/em><\/strong> is that He IS God Almighty<\/strong>…El Shaddai<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Hearing this name brings comfort and peace to my heart!\u00a0 The fact and truth that\u00a0Almighty God\/<\/span>El Shaddai<\/span> loves me (and you, too!) and perfectly provides His care, provision, protection, supply of\u00a0my (your!)\u00a0needs is so thrilling\u00a0my soul!\u00a0 The most common understanding of the title El Shaddai<\/span> is “God Who is Almighty<\/em>.”\u00a0 There are 48 times in the Scriptures where God calls Himself by the name El Shaddai<\/span>.\u00a0 Let\u2019s look at just a couple of these records.<\/p>\n

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When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, I AM<\/i> <\/strong>the Almighty God <El Shaddai>; walk and live habitually before Me and be perfect.<\/p>\n

Genesis 17:1<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This is the very first record in the Scriptures where I AM<\/em><\/strong> identifies Himself in this way.\u00a0 God Almighty\/El Shaddai<\/span> was about to reveal to Abram a part of the covenant He was making with him.\u00a0 And this is where He promises the 99 year old Abram that he and his 90 year old wife, Sarai, would be having a son!!!\u00a0 This is such a beautiful record!\u00a0 (You can read the complete record here<\/a>.)\u00a0 Only El Shaddai<\/span> could have made such an eternal covenant.\u00a0 Only El Shaddai<\/span> could have made a deadened womb to nurture life and bring forth a baby.\u00a0 Only El Shaddai<\/span>…God Almighty!<\/p>\n

Another example where the Great I AM<\/em><\/strong> is called by the title El Shaddai<\/span> is in Psalm 91.\u00a0 The psalmist declares,<\/p>\n

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Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
\nwill rest in the shadow of the Almighty <El Shaddai<\/span>>.
\nI will say of the Lord, “He is my Refuge and my Fortress,
\nmy God, in whom I trust.”
\nPsalm 91: 1-2<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Perhaps you, too, rejoice in your heart of hearts that El Shaddai,\u00a0Who is the Great I AM<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/em>loves and cares for you in the very same ways He has\u00a0always cared for His people.\u00a0 He is God and does not change.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Would you share here in the comments about this or a different characteristic of the Great I AM<\/em> that is important to you?\u00a0\u00a0I would love to hear about it!\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

El Shaddai, El Shaddai, El-Elyon na Adonai,
\nAge to age You’re still the same, by the power of the Name.
\nEl Shaddai, El Shaddai, Erkamka na Adonai,
\nI will praise you ’till I die, El Shaddai.<\/p>\n

Erkamka na, Adonai! …translated…<\/span> I love You, Lord!<\/span><\/p>\n