And God said to him, "Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name." So He called his name Israel. Also God said to him: "I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body. The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give this land."
When God calls Himself God Almighty or in Hebrew El Shaddai, He is literally saying I am the breasted one. The breast nourishes and sustains life. God is telling Jacob that He is not only the source of life but the nourisher and sustainer of it also. In Him, we, like Jacob, have everything we need. How comforting is that for us! Our God is the El Shaddai!
I have nursed children. Nursing is something that requires you to sit down and focus completely on your child. You really can't do much else. God designed it this way. It is where the infant meets you face to face for the first time and falls in love. It is where your personal relationship with your little one is established...as you hold him close and nourish and sustain his life. This is how my God wants me to think of Him...encompassed in His everlasting arms where every thought and intention of my heart is known by Him and every cry answered. When God is with us it is as if there is no one else and nothing else in the universe. He is intensely there...as a mom is with her nursing infant, to be in the presence of God is better than anything the world has to offer. He is our great High Priest who can sympathize with all our weaknesses. He bears our sorrows and trouble. He intercedes for us with the Father. He clothes us in His righteousness. He is our helper, our deliverer and our sustainer. His love and grace for each of us is without end. The height, breadth, width and depth of his love cannot be measured.
As a child is weaned and grows older, by necessity, he grows more independent of his parents. We tell our kids to grow up and behave like an adult. The Great El Shaddai tells us the opposite! He wants us to behave like a child...to depend on Him in everything and for everything! Jesus modeled this by living His life here on earth in total and utter dependence on His Father in Heaven. He said nothing and did nothing outside of His Father's will. If you are a parent, remember this desire of God's in your moment by moment relationship with your little one. Point Him to Jesus always. Having done that...you have done your job. Remember it in your own relationship with your Lord. Think back on the sweetness of the nursing period...think back to when your child was a toddler and was tired, or scared or hurt and how wonderful it felt when they ran to you and climbed into your lap for whatever it was they might have needed. Remember how wonderful it was to be able to fill that need for them. REMEMBER THIS AND GO TO HIM IN YOUR TIME OF NEED. Climb on His lap and allow His comfort to fill you! It is His joy to do this!! Your God will rejoice over you with singing and He will comfort and quiet you with His love.
Life is hard....full of difficulties and curve balls. It is too much for any of us. Jesus tells us He is the El Shaddai..."the breasted one". He does not want us to handle this life on our own. In fact...He does not want US to handle it at all. He says to come to Him...cry out to Him...run to Him. He is the God that performs all things for us. He is the God that perfects all things that concern us. We can trust Him. This is the attitude we need when we first enter God's kingdom....one of total dependence on the mercy of God. One that understands with heart knowledge, as a child does, that he is helpless and unable to save himself. This also needs to be the heart of a child of God throughout his journey here on earth. He walks with His God by faith, without fear, knowing that he is loved by his Father and that He will care for his every need. Revel in the moment. Walk by faith...cast your burdens upon the Lord...He cares for you. Know your God, the Great El Shaddai, is with you and will see you through!
