What does it mean that God is Almighty?

Answer

In Hebrew, the title “God Almighty” is written as El Shaddai and likely means “God, the All-powerful One” or “The Mighty One of Jacob” (Genesis 49:24; Psalm 132:2, 5). However, there is a debate among most Bible scholars about its exact meaning. This title emphasizes God’s supreme power over all things. The first mention of this name is in Genesis 17:1, when God appeared to Abram and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless.”

God is known by many names and attributes. He is the Almighty « Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; And by the Almighty, who shall bless thee With blessings of heaven above, Blessings of the deep that lieth under, Blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: », (Genesis 49:25), the Creator of heaven and earth «And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: », (Genesis 14:19), the Builder of everything «For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. », (Hebrews 3:4), the King of heaven «Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.», (Daniel 4:37), God of all mankind «Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? », (Jeremiah 32:27), and the Eternal King. <

«But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. », (Jeremiah 10:10). He is the only God «to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.», (Jude 1:25), the Eternal God «And Abraham planted a grove in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God. », (Genesis 21:33), the Everlasting God «Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. », (Isaiah 40:28), and Maker of all things «As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all. », (Ecclesiastes 11:5). He is able to do more things than we can ask or even imagine «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, », (Ephesians 3:20). He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed and miracles that cannot be counted «Which doeth great things past finding out; Yea, and wonders without number. », (Job 9:10). God’s power is unlimited. He can do anything He wants, whenever He wants «But our God isIn the heavens: He has done whatever he has pleased. », (Psalm 115:3). He spoke the universe into existence «And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. », (Genesis 1:3). Furthermore, He answers to no one regarding His plans and purposes: “All the peoples of the earth are considered as nothing. He does as He pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or ask Him, ‘What have you done?’” «and all the inhabitants of the earth are esteemed as nothing: and He does according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can hinder His hand, or say to Him, What are you doing? », (Daniel 4:35).

When we see God as the Almighty, we are struck by His power and by the fact that He is indeed a great, mighty, and awesome God «For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, who shows no partiality nor takes bribes: », (Deuteronomy 10:17). The identity of God as Almighty serves to establish the sense of awe and wonder we have toward Him and the realization that He is God above all things without limitation. This is important considering how He is described next in the Bible. In Exodus 6:2-3, God said to Moses, “I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them.” How is this significant? It is significant because God, whom we previously knew only as God Almighty, has now given a new, more personal and intimate name to Moses (and Israel). This desire on God’s part for a more personal relationship with mankind would culminate later when G

God Almighty sent His only Son to earth—God in flesh—to die on the cross so that a way for forgiveness of our sins could be provided. The fact that God Almighty would humble Himself in this way for us makes His name all the more remarkable.