Find Peace in God’s Power: Omnipotence

During his 1789 National Thanksgiving Day Proclamation, George Washington declared:...

it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God …

... both Houses of Congress have … requested me to “recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer … by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God …”^[1]

Similarly, in his 1863 Proclamation of an Annual Thanksgiving Day, Abraham Lincoln announced:

... these bounties ... we are prone to forget the source from which they come ... [the] providence of Almighty God …^[2]

Notice the repetition of “Almighty God” in both presidential proclamations of gratitude—the Scriptures reveal this name of God in the Hebrew, El Shaddai, to speak of His incommunicable attribute of “omnipotence” or all-powerfulness.

Psalm 147:7 says to Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving … especially for God’s power over nature (vss. 4-5, 15-18); verse five sings of the Lord’s “great power”.  He is amply able to give out of His abundance.^[3]  God’s people should praise Him for His all-mighty ability to supply and preserve, powered by His personal love toward them.

Herbert Lockyer shares that the Hebrew root for Shaddai, “shad”, sometimes means “breast”. He writes, El Shaddai “… presents God as the One who nourishes, supplies, and satisfies … How sufficient a mother’s breast is to quiet and satisfy her crying, restless child!”^[4]

A nursing baby can only suck—his mother holds him in her arms, directs his lips, and supplies her milk with a powerful will to nourish his growth.  So God cares for His children from His own potent parental and gracious affection.^[5]  God never turns His babies away, for His milk supply never runs dry; nor does His powerful love ever tire of nurture and nourishing.

In Genesis 17:1, the first time God reveals Himself as El Shaddai, Abraham had tried himself to produce the promised child and line of salvation—and he failed; Almighty God reassures that He alone is able to do so and He alone will.  In Genesis 35:11, because God is El Shaddai He commands Jacob to be fruitful and multiply; and in 48:3ff Jacob tells Joseph to trust God’s promise of myriad progeny because the Lord is El Shaddai.  God will provide His Church covenant children because He is most able to sire, suckle, and succor you all.

Psalm 91:1 reads, He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  The person who takes refuge under God’s enormous care receives His powerful protection.  Feel the strength in His name, El Shaddai.

Shaddai means having absolutely no weakness or limit whatsoever.  This eternal potency connotes a supreme, intense, strong, overpowering influence.  Very often we see El Shaddai used in Job (exalting God’s might over our problems and pain when we are at our weakest).  Psalm 91 speaks of “Almighty God’s” power to deliver from being hunted or infected (vss. 3, 6, 10, 14a, 15); to protect like a mother hen and a soldier’s shield (vs. 4); to save from His own wrath and hellfire judgment (vss. 8-9, 16); and to conquer Satanic influence (vs. 13).  In Exodus 6:3, God told Moses He appeared as El Shaddai to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob which is repeated through the Bible to mostly relate His power to keep His promise and make them procreate and persevere—even those “as good as dead”. 

You may often be afraid of broken promises due to someone’s potential inability to follow through.  But you never need worry about God’s ability to keep His promises to you—namely to raise you from the dead.  In the mean time, remember that He is more than able to do all things.^[6]  Therefore, when you feel like you can’t, repeat Philippians 4:13.

Do not forget that the Third Person of “Almighty God” dwells within you!  And that Spirit is of Christ Who is often spoken of in The Revelation as the “Almighty”.^[7]  You need look no further than Jesus for a powerful peace that is not of this fragile world.  Face your fears and strengthen your feeble knees praying to El Shaddai and be confident in your Almighty God. 

Notice also the similarly repetitive use of “providence” in both presidential thanksgiving proclamations above.  Because God is all-powerful He is able, more than able, to provide for all your needs.  So don’t worry about tomorrow, beloved brethren.  Today, Find Peace in God’s Power!^[8]

Grant Van Leuven has been feeding the flock at the Puritan Evangelical Church of America in San Diego, CA, since 2010.  He and his wife, Fernanda, have five covenant children: Rachel, Olivia, Abraham, Isaac, and Gabriel (and they are expecting their sixth, Gideon Emmanuel, who is due November 10th!).  He earned his M.Div. at the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, PA.