What's in a name? (#6)

As I continue in this series of blogs on the names of God and the implications for belief and practice, the one today is particularly applicable to our current situation in the world.

ALMIGHTY: This name for God is found well over 300 times in the bible. It is usually translated from a Hebrew word Shaddai, which means strong, powerful and impregnable. It is more than just being one who is mighty but is the most strong and the most powerful. It used often paired with another word to give God the name, “The Lord Almighty.” If you have been in church much, you have probably used this term used often in music, prayers and from the preacher. I wonder though, what would change if we really considered the implications of this word.

If God truly is the Almighty One, then he is more powerful than anything in existence. It makes sense if he is the creator, then me must be the most powerful one because everything owes its existence to him. There is nothing that can baffle or hold him powerless. He is in control of all the world’s governments and systems. There is no country or ruling authority that exceeds or gets around his power. All of weather is at his beck and call. All of nature (including this pandemic) is under his control and authority. No circumstance or problem is too difficult for him. He sets up the times and seasons for all things and arrange circumstances to accomplish what he wants. The power of the strongest hurricane or largest bomb is nothing compared to him.

For some this breeds cynicism. If he is that powerful, then why doesn’t he exercise that power to fix everything? His agenda is far more reaching and more intimate that we can grasp. As parents we don’t often fix things for our kids that we are powerful enough to fix but we don’t because we love them and know there is something better for them. And in the end, he IS going to fix everything and put it right. He has promised and is powerful enough to do it.

Instead, knowing God is Almighty means I can bring any and every problem to him, knowing that he can heal any disease, help me with any relationship problem, help me with any money issue, and deal with any problems or hang-ups in my heart and soul. There is so sin pattern or habit beyond his help. This leads me to trust him and engage with him in any situation. Whether he does it the way I think he should does not change that he can.