Day 1 - The Power Behind God's Promises
- Pastor b.Side
- Apr 1
- 2 min read
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I [am] Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.” - Genesis 17:1
When people make promises, their integrity usually depends on their ability to keep them. Does the person have the means to do what they say, regardless of their sincerity? Many people make promises with every intention of fulfilling them. The challenge is that factors beyond our control often limit us. God does not face this issue. He is not influenced by the variables of life that disrupt our plans. He is the Almighty God!
The Bible teaches that God’s “official” name is YAHWEH. He is the eternally self-existing, self-sustaining Creator and Controller of everything in heaven and earth, uniquely connecting Himself to His creation through His covenants with Israel. That’s why “YAHWEH” is called God’s “promise name.” If this truly is God’s “promise name,” then the title “El Shaddai” explains why we can trust God to keep His promises. El Shaddai means “Almighty God," a name that highlights God’s omnipotence. He has the power to do anything—literally!
“The LORD appeared to Abram..."
God’s relationship with Abraham and his descendants proves this true. God first called Abram in Genesis Chapter 12. There, He established a three-fold covenant with him: He would make him a great nation, grant him a large land inheritance, and bless him, his descendants, and “all the families of the earth" through a specific relative. This promise was eternal and unconditional. Genesis Chapter 17 shows that God reiterated and confirmed this covenant, even though twenty-four years had passed since God first called Abraham. God was so committed to this covenant that He changed Abram’s name to Abraham, signifying that He regarded him, his family, his future descendants, and this covenant as His own possession!
“I [am] Almighty God...”
Why does God identify Himself as “Almighty God” here? If God intends to make Abraham a “great nation” with a “great land inheritance,” He needs the power to accomplish that. If God is to bless Abraham, his descendants, and the families of the earth through a specific relative, He requires extraordinary power that can flow from one man, through many generations, ultimately reaching the entire world through another Man! His power must have omnipresent effects across both space and time! God needs sustaining power that never runs out to stay true to His own Word, no matter the circumstances. That’s exactly the power God possesses!
Prayer for today
Our heavenly Father, it is clear that You revealed Your power to Abraham to reassure his heart about Your ability and faithfulness to fulfill Your promises. The history of Scripture shows that You have NEVER turned away from fulfilling this covenant. The past and future work of Jesus Christ confirms this truth! Like Abraham, help us to be whole and complete in our souls by faith, through understanding You, Your promises, and the ever-present power You possess to accomplish everything You have declared.
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