As my heart anticipates the day of Christ’s birth, the theme song of my heart thrums with the celebration of the God who bound himself to humanity to save humanity.
I think it’s easy to celebrate his human side—his birth, growing up, and even his death and burial. From the prophecies and the stories read during this time, we learn confidence in our connection. He knows our griefs and sorrows. This knowledge captures our hearts and tenderizes our response to the Christ child. “He is one of us!” we rightly claim, and our hearts celebrate.
The meaning of El Shaddai
The full meaning of El Shaddai is probably too deep for us to plumb the depths, especially in our inadequate English language. Many scholars debate the root words that could have made up the Hebrew name God chose when he first introduced himself to Abraham in the covenant-making ceremony. Some scholars theorize that it comes from a Babylonian word for a protective spirit who would destroy enemies that came against the house. Others point to an Akkadian word for “mountain of sustenance,” the meaning of which would have likely been known to Abraham since it was the language of his hometown.
Others stretch farther to a Hebrew word, Shaddad, meaning something like “mighty teat”—not this recent ridiculous notion of a “many-breasted one” that is sheer pagan imagery and nonsense. The translation might be two breasts at the most, but more likely, the word is “mighty” breasted one, which may be why some of the original Bible translators went with a more male version by using “Almighty.”
Lastly, the rabbis postulate that it comes from the Hebrew sounds “sh” and “day.” This creates a uniquely Hebrew word that would mean something like “Your Sufficiency.” In our language, the word “sufficient” is a measly word. Just enough. Barely enough. It implies what is needed and not more. In Hebrew, the words would have been spoken against the backdrop of “El” or the El of all Elohim, the God of all Gods. The sufficiency here would have been God’s all-sufficiency for the person to whom he revealed himself.
He is our sufficiency
With this uniquely Hebrew backdrop, the name by which God revealed himself to the patriarchs likely means, “Out of my abundance, I am your sufficiency.”
Now that meaning lines up with the nature of God revealed to us in the Bible! It also encompasses the meaning of the other words scholars point to. He is our mountain of sustenance, the one who vanquishes the enemies of the house he established. He sustains our lives as a mother sustains her child. It is possible that to someone in the Old Testament hearing the story of the covenant of Abraham around the campfire, this name meant all these things, all rolled into one.
He introduces the covenant and himself as the covenant-keeper, saying to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and to us…
I am more than sufficient for all your needs, in every way, always.
So we return to the nativity, to our abundant sufficiency wrapped in the strips of cloth of a sacrificial lamb lying in a manger. There’s nothing measly or half-measure in the actions of the Creator of the Universe, binding himself to humanity, dwelling with us, healing us, and finally, sacrificing himself because he knew it was the only way to save us.
This is what leads Paul the Apostle to exclaim:
And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
– Ephesians 3:18-19 NLT
When we say Christ is the promised one, we also say he is the one who promised. He is the promiser of promises, fulfilled.
He is our El Shaddai.
Prayer
Father,
You, indeed, are the Promise-maker, the Promise-keeper, and the Promise fulfilled. You longed to dwell with your creation, so you bound yourself to us to rescue us from ourselves. What depth of love! You are strong, mighty, and unfailing. There is no limit to your boundless abundance.
We look to You as our El Shaddai—our All Sufficient One—more than enough for our every need. May we sense Your presence, guiding, directing, nurturing, and even picking us up when we fall. You are our all-sufficient God, and we put our trust in You. May our frailty lead us to humble ourselves before You and be the motivation to live in community with other believers today.
Amen.
My Guest Today
Cathy Garland writes Gracefull Musings, a blog providing women a moment of rest and challenge before those little fingers appear under the bathroom door. A former Vice-President of a software company, she currently consults with institutions and companies on marketing, sales, and strategy. She also mentors women in professional, spiritual, and personal development. Saved and living an “absolutely surrendered” life, her passion is to teach people to hear God’s voice and obey, surrender their lives absolutely, and walk in freedom. She is married to Mickey and has two children in elementary school.
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I have know Cathy for many years. We have wandered in and out of each others lives. Not living in the same town now, I so enjoy her postings. I am so glad you are sharing her with the world. She is a pure joy and I miss sitting across a table from her.