El Shaddai is God Almighty, the all sufficient One, more than enough to meet our needs. That sentence speaks volumes regarding Who God is. In Exodus 6:2-3, God reveals Himself to Moses as El Shaddai. The people of Israel had been slaves to the Egyptians for over 400 years. The Israelites called out to God for help (Exodus 2:23-25). God heard their cry and chose Moses to go to the Egyptian king (Pharaoh) to bring them out of captivity into a new land (Exodus 3-5).
This angered Pharaoh and his treatment of the Israelites became worse. In Exodus 5:22-23, Moses returned to God and said, “Why have You brought all this trouble on Your own people, Lord? Why did You send me? Ever since I came to Pharaoh as Your spokesman, he has been even more brutal to Your people. And You have done nothing to rescue them!”
At this point God revealed Himself as El Shaddai. Exodus 6:2-3, “God said to Moses, I am Yahweh—the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as El-Shaddai—God Almighty.”
God wanted Moses to realize Who He was and that He was more than able to bring His people out of captivity.
The Israelites wanted to be free, but were afraid of the unknown and had grown comfortable in their captivity.
Our lives are not much different than the Israelites. There are many things that can keep us captive today. Fear, depression, shame, hopelessness, rejection, drugs and alcohol are just a few. We too may desire to be free from these mindsets, but fear of the unknown, being comfortable in our situation, and even unforgiveness can keep us from moving forward. Jesus tells us in John 10:10, “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]. “
God is the same God today as He was in Exodus. He desires to release us from those mindsets that keep us in captivity, and prevent us from having the abundant life Jesus came to give us. He is El Shaddai, God almighty, all sufficient One and is more than enough to meet our needs.
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