Sermon Tone Analysis

RUN INTO & REST

IN THE STRONG TOWER OF

EL SHADDAI

GOD'S

PAST

REVELATION

(GENESIS 1-16) GOD'S

NEXT

REVELATION

(GENESIS 17) MAN'S

RESPONSE

IN LIGHT OF

THE REVELATION

Remember that God's Names always reveal an aspect or attribute of His character and witness to an awareness of God’s presence and help in various ways.

Notice how this revelation occurs progressively in the Genesis...

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GENESIS 1

Elohim — My Creator

Isaiah 43:7

Why does God say we were created?

Everyone who is called by My name and whom I have created for My glory

Each person is created by God with and for a purpose.

We need to accept ourselves as creations of God, each of whom has the privileged purpose to bring Him glory

Ephesians 2:10

What does Paul say about us when we are "re-created" (regenerated, born again)?

Eph 2:10 (note) teaches that believers are now His workmanship (poiema - "masterpiece") created in Christ for good works

Matthew 5:16

What association do good works have with the glory of God?

Jesus exhorts His hearers to "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify (give a proper opinion) of your Father Who is in heaven" (See note Mt 5:16)

Have you accepted the fact that Elohim is your Creator?

Do you believe that He has a purpose for your life?

Do you understand that the way to bring glory to let your light so shine before men that they see your good works and give Him glory?

Am I fulfilling the purpose for which Elohim created me?

Does the way I live give a proper opinion of my Elohim?

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GENESIS 15

After Abram had rescued Lot, God spoke to Abram in a vision...

Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you.

Your reward shall be very great"' (Ge 15:1)

Abram proceeds to suggest that Eliezer would be the heir but immediately God confirms that the heir will be his own seed...

And He took him outside and said, "Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them."

And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be"

(Ge 15:5)

Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.

(Ge 15:6)

After God initiated and carried out the "walk of death" between the dead animals, Moses records...

On that day the LORD made (cut) a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I have given this land..." (N.B.

This promise is not to the church but Abraham, Isaac and Jacob [Covenant Abrahamic vs Mosaic] - to national Israel - it will be consummated in the Millennium)...because

He is El Shaddai - God Almighty, Pantokrator, Omnipotent and Sufficient).

(Ge 15:18)

Genesis 14:18, 19, 20

El Elyon — God Most High

Sovereign Over All

(see notes - El Elyon)

Sovereignty reminds us that God is in control regardless of appearances.

Here God reveals Himself to Abram as God Most High, the possessor of heaven and earth (see Ge 14:19)

Nothing happens without El Elyon's permission

Will I accept my circumstances as allowed by God, understanding that everything is orchestrated not by chance but by an omnipotent God Who seeks to bring about my highest good (Ro 8:28-note)?

If we come to know God as El Elyon, it should germinate an attitude of gratitude so that we are enabled by the Spirit to truly give thanks In everything (1Th 5:18-note), cp He 13:15-note, Jas 1:2-note)

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Genesis 16:13-14

El Roi — God Who Sees

(see notes)

Abram takes a "faith detour" and agrees with Sarai that Hagar can bear his child but Ishmael is the child of the flesh not of promise.

Then Sarai tells Abram to cast Hagar out, which is when God revealed Himself as El Roi.

The Living God saw Hagar's plight.

The same God sees our plight today and is concerned with our circumstances.

El Elyon allows people and circumstances into our lives but El Roi sees and is aware of what is transpiring, a truth which should strengthen us

Let us learn to live in the presence of the living God Who sees all.

(See C H Spurgeon's comments)

As an aside, we might all be tempted to judge Abram for his "faith detour" in Genesis 16, but don't we all have similar struggles?

Sure we have trusted in Christ alone for our eternal salvation but then we go out and live our day to day Christian life as though everything depended on us!

We all need to learn the secret of daily yielding ourselves to Him, allowing His Spirit to live the supernatural Christ life that alone brings glory to His Name (cp Ro 12:1-note).

Paul addressed a similar "faith detour" in the Galatian church asking...

Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

Are you so foolish?

Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

(Gal 3:2; 3)

In Genesis 17 Abraham learned the secret of surrender of his will to the will of his God, El Shaddai, Who is mighty and sufficient to bring about the fulfillment of His promises in His perfect timing.

May we all learn from Abram's example, and choose to submit to our El Shaddai, in every area of our life, that He might bring forth His supernatural promises, including not just spiritual life, but life abundant in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Amen.

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In summary we observe that thus far in Genesis, God has revealed Himself as

Elohim

El Elyon

El Roi

Now He will reveal Himself to Abraham as..

El

Shaddai

Principle to ponder - Remember that one way to get to know God better is to pay attention to His names.

However, it is one thing to know God’s name and quite something else to trust that name and allow God to work in the difficult situations of life (Psalm 9:10-note)

GOD'S

NEXT

REVELATION

(GENESIS 17)

El Shaddai is better known to most Christians from contemporary music (lyrics and melody) than from the Scriptures!

Abraham's Life

Provides Context for Genesis 17

Genesis 12

Abram - Age 75

God gave Abram a condition and a promise.

God called him to leave his country and go to a land which He would show him.

This took a "leap of faith" to obey, but faith is always based on truth and Abram responded affirmatively strengthened by the truth of God's promise...

Ge 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse.