“Can God make a rock so big that He can’t move it?”
This question seems to be lurking in the minds of half my Sunday school students every time we talk about the power of God. Though the question is kinda silly, there is something to it. Is anything too hard for God? What are the limits of What God can do? What happens if our faith in Him overtakes His ability?
The next name of God in our study addresses the heart of these questions.
“…I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.” Genesis 17:1b (emphasis mine)
The Hebrew words behind the English “Almighty God” are “El Shaddai”. El Shaddai is another of the combination names with “El” (meaning mighty[ Check meaning]). Shaddai means simply “Almighty” as we see it translated here.
This is the name God uses of Himself when He blesses Abram and changes his name to Abraham (Gen 17:1-16), and when He blesses Jacob and changes his name to Israel (Gen 35:10-12). God is emphasizing His absolute ability to do as He has promised.
In the book of Genesis El Shaddai is used exclusively in contexts of blessing (See passages given above and Gen 28:1-3, 43:11-14, 49:25 and broader contexts), Either of God blessing Abraham and Israel (once when Jacob was telling about it Gen 48:3-4) or when Isaac and Jacob were blessing their children.
God’s blessing is based on His absolute power! What an amazing thought!
Let’s look briefly at how God, in His power, was going to bless Abraham:
God’s Charge
“I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.”
Perfect doesn’t mean “sinless” as we often think of it, but rather carries the idea of sincerity, wholeheartedness, and blamelessness. God was looking for Abraham, His friend, to maintain his way before Him in sincerity.
God’s Commitments
Following this we see several very important phrases preceded by the words “I will”. These are commitments that God makes to Abraham and to His descendants.
“I will” #1 – “And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.” (Verse 2)
The Almighty God promises to enter into a special relationship with Abraham and later He extends this to Abraham’s descendants:
“And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.” Genesis 17:7
“I will” #2 – “And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.” (Verse 6)
The Almighty God promised to multiply Abraham. This wasn’t a new promise between Abraham and God, but the context of God revealing Himself as “Almighty” is significant.
“I will” #3 – “And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” (Verse 8)
The Almighty God promises Abraham the land that he is living in right now. And not just to Abraham to live in and have the benefit of, but for the Abraham’s descendants to live in. This is the place God has chosen where He will be their God.
This is a big promise.
“Beyond All that We Can Ask or Think”
When God makes a big promise it is a part of His character to keep that promise, but it is not a part of our character to understand it. God’s ways are far beyond what we understand. For example, God’s work in the life of a believer is something miraculous. We experience it, but we don’t understand it. Our lack of understanding doesn’t diminish it’s reality.
Paul, in Ephesians 3, references God’s ability compared to our understanding. He does this in the context of God’s work in the lives of believers and a prayer that he prays for this beloved church. Notice the confidence with which he ends this prayer:
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Ephesians 3:20–21
The glory truly belongs only to the God Who “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think”. The boldest prayer and the most active imagination aren’t able to fathom the greatness of God’s power.
What a wonderful thought to take into our prayer life: God is Almighty!
Studying and Application:
- What are some things you’ve seen God do that were beyond what you could “ask or think”?
- Write them down and spend some time in prayer today giving God glory for these wonderful works.
- What are some things that you can imagine (“think”) but that you haven’t ever taken the step to ask God about?
- Pray about these things, seeking God’s will and looking for His leading on how to pray for them and how to act in faith about them.
- Review your prayer list. Take a minute to add any new requests now.
