Different names in the Old Testament were ascribed to God, hinting on His nature and character. For instance;
Jehovah Jireh – The Lord will provide (Gen 22:14)
Jehovah Shalom – The Lord our peace (Judges 6:23-24)
Jehovah Nissi – The Lord my banner (Exodus 17:8-15)
Every time God intervened in a situation or whenever He spoke a promise to his servants or people, He would attach His name on the promise, describing what He is or what He will do. God re-introduced Himself to Abraham as El-Shaddai; the Almighty, All powerful, and the All-sufficient one. Many generations later, He is still the Almighty and the One who supplies more than enough!
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.”
Gen 17:1-2
Hebrew translations further define the name El Shaddai showing God’s nature as a nurturer. God is the many breasted one, the nurturer of babies, the provider of the nourishment that we need in life, one who satisfies and one who is more than enough!
God, as our El Shaddai, has multiple feeding opportunities for us. We can trust Him to take care of all of us, our children and the generations after us. He made a covenant with Abraham that not only provided for him but covers us, as well!
See enlargement over contention…
In Genesis 13, Abraham’s and Lot’s herdsmen got into a heated dispute over land. The land was getting smaller to contain the two families because God had prospered them! Abraham must known God as the sufficient one, when he chose stretching further over contention with his nephew Lot! He even gave Lot the privilege to chose which side he would go. Then Lot chose the well watered garden on the East while Abraham had no choice but to go on the opposite direction.
Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company:
Gen 13:10-11NIV
Interesting, right after Abram parted ways with Lot, God appeared to Him, promising to give him and his descendants the entire land, which included the East where Lot had chosen!
The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever.
Gen 13:14-15
As long as Abraham walked blameless before God, he had the assurance of the nurturer and nourisher on his side, no matter how disadvantaged his circumstance may have looked like.
Isaac was in a similar circumstance. While living in Gerar valley, Isaac and his servants dug wells that belonged to His father Abraham. The Gerar herders displaced them twice, because of strife, contention and envy, then claimed ownership of the wells. Just like His father Abraham, Isaac choose to move and stretch further to new territories instead of disputing with the Philistines. Again, Isaac dug a well further from their border and called it Rehoboth, signifying broad, spacious place and enlargement (Gen 26:22). This time, the well dispute came to an end.
We would not be reading of Rehoboth today if Isaac went to war or tried to prove how much privileged he was as Abraham’s son. Yet, he had all the reasons to contend in order to preserve His father’s legacy. Many may argue so. But you see, sometimes walking away, or choosing not to fight back may seem as weakness in the eyes of people, but it is not so in the eyes of God. We are peace makers, and peace will always prevail over contention!
Later on, Isaac prevails! King Abimelek realizes God is with this man, Isaac, and goes to him to make a peace treaty. God also appears to Isaac, Just like he did to Abraham after he had a similar contention with Lot, and reaffirms His promise to Isaac, just as he had spoken to Abraham. (Gen 26:24-30)
The Lord appeared to him that night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.”
Gen 26:24
Enlarge your vision:
When you begin to see God as El Shaddai, the many breasted one, the God who satisfies you, your nuturer and nourisher, then you will not see the need to contend with people whose limitation is on present circumstance like the Gerar herders. Instead, upgrade your dreams, talk to Him about your heart desires! Like Abraham, lift your eyes and see further. Enlarge your vision, stretch out your dwelling. Lengthen and strengthen your communion with God in prayer and the Word until you see every prophetic word spoken concerning you established!
El Shaddai also has more than enough resources, wisdom, revelation, opportunities, graces, business ideas, spiritual gifts …to keep the church of Jesus Christ alive for many lifetimes. This includes every individual believer, because we are His chosen generation and His peculiar people.
As graced ministers in the body of Christ, we don’t have to compete in order to prevail. We ALL are on a mission, with one goal in mind; to make Christ known! Just because someone is suckling (or say prevailing in their calling, gifting or business) it doesn’t mean that they have taken your place.
There is more than enough in God and we can never suck him dry. God’s stage and spotlight is big enough for every child of God. So much so, that you don’t have to deem another person’s light for yours to shine brighter! Neither do you need to compete for numbers to look better or accomplished than others.
We are all unique vessels, created and set apart for the master’s use! See, Christ as the head of the church, has one bride! Therefore, our different gifting, talents and ministries are meant to glorify and advance the Kingdom of God!
Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.
Isa 54:2 ESV
His nature revealed through us:
God is willing to nurture, nourish and prosper us! We also need to know that as the body of Christ we are all team mates! The grace and gift we have received are for the benefit and nourishment of others. The more we have many believers advancing in their gifting and graces, the better. So, you should not feel threatened when things “seem” to be working for another person better than they are working for you. God nourishes us so that we are able to nourish others. We are to rejoice with others as they prevail in God. We are to open our heart to receive their grace and gifting in their ministration, as we find peace in our heart, knowing that what God can do for one, He can do even much more for another! If He so wishes to nourish or nurture us through others, Just know its because He is the many breasted one! He is El shaddai!
Copyright©2021 Mary Kinuthia
The REcharge Movement 