El Shaddai: The All Sufficient God

Biblical bread, a symbol of nourishment and satisfaction

God's Different Names Reveal His Character

God reveals Himself through many names throughout Scripture to express vital aspects of His character. One, in particular, although not explicitly named, is revealed in the miracle of the five loaves and two fish as told in all four of the Gospels (Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:10-16, and John 6:5-14)—signifying a lesson that applies to every sphere of our lives.

The Old Testament "El Shaddai," the "All-Sufficient One," seems to be characterized in this event. The feeding of the 5000 takes place after the beheading of John the Baptist. Jesus and His disciples sought a reprieve from the crowds, but were followed by them anyway. Jesus, moved by compassion, began to teach the crowds, and, much to the dismay of His disciples, He decided to feed them when there were no apparent provisions.

He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things. When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat.” 

— Mark 6:31-36 

Jesus commanded His tired and hungry disciples to feed them.

... “You give them something to eat.” (Mark and Luke)

That is, you feed 5000 men. This number did not include women and children. Could it be suggested that there were over 10,000 people to feed altogether?

Like the Israelites of old in the wilderness, the disciples began to complain.

Jesus feeding the multitude.

Bring Him the Little You Have

The disciple's response hints at the inadequacy they might have felt concerning the command.

• "We have here only five loaves and two fish." (Matthew) 
• "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?" (Mark) 
• "We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people." (Luke)  
• "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little. One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?" (John)

This scene could be relatable when considering the needs of those around us and our roles and responsibilities in fulfilling them.

The disciples tried to make it clear to Jesus that His request was a bit ridiculous, given the phenomenal cost of feeding a crowd of that size or of trying to make five loaves and two fish stretch for 10,000 people.

I must admit it is the same ridiculousness I feel concerning the problems and needs around me, whether global or within my family or church. My glaring inadequacy can send me into a panic at times. The impossible and overwhelming issues leave me wondering, "What could I possibly do to make a difference?" or "What do I have to offer of any significance in any of these situations?" Humanly speaking, it is never enough. "It is not sufficient," I come up short every time.

The four statements in each Gospel reveal that the disciples' perceptions of the problem were focused only on the physical created world and the realm of possibilities. The best solution the disciples came up with was the following.

"Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food"(Matthew)

This may have been my suggestion as well. It is the very thing I suggest during an overwhelming crisis or need. "Just send them away." I am tired, hungry, and have needs of my own."

Jesus's second instruction to them is to go and find out how much they have:

He (Jesus) said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see. (Mark)

The disciples do as instructed, and John records that they found five loaves of barley and two fish from a boy's lunch. What they had to offer wasn't even theirs. Again, I recognize this parallel in my own life. After careful examination (Go and see), I discovered I have nothing substantial or significant to offer.

Jesus's third instruction is the answer to this dilemma and lays the foundation for the all-sufficient one, "El Shaddai."

"He (Jesus) said, "Bring them (loaves and fishes) here to Me." (Matthew)

Bringing what we have to Jesus is what we must do.

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 

— Hebrews 4:16

Scottish minister Alexander Maclaren wisely explains in his book "My Redeemer Lives."

Christ's preparation for making our poor resources adequate for anything is to drive home into our hearts the consciousness of their insufficiency. We need, first of all, to be brought to this, 'All that I have is this wretched little stock; and what is that measured against the work that I have to do, and the claims upon me?' Only when we are brought to that can His great power pour itself into us and fill us with rejoicing and overcoming strength. The old mystics used to say, and they said truly: 'You must be emptied of yourself before you can be filled by God.' And the first thing for any man to learn, in preparation for receiving a mightier power than his own into his opening heart, is to know that all his own strength is utter and absolute weakness.

Five—Grace—Sufficiency

The title given to this story is "The Feeding of the Five Thousand," based on biblical accounts of how many people Jesus and His disciples fed. Notably, there were five loaves. Numbers in Scripture often confirm the text's central theme and add depth and insight into the lesson. The number five in Scripture is representative of grace.

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

— 2 Corinthians 12:9 

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work 

— 2 Corinthians 9:8

Remarkably, these two verses pair up grace and sufficiency just as the number five and God's provision do with this story. Grace can be seen here as in concert with God's strength, sufficiency, and goodness.

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God. 

— 2 Corinthians 3:5

It is evident from my experience that I have no sufficiency of my own, and the above verse states that I can quit trying to conjure it up on my own. Whatever I have to offer comes from God's grace.

I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge 

— 1 Corinthians 1:4-5

Grace requires total dependence on God's goodness and confidence that He sees us favorably and that it is His good pleasure to give us the kingdom.

And says John in the true translation: 'So the men sat down, therefore Jesus took the loaves.' Sit you down where He bids you, and your mouths will not be long empty. Do what He tells you, and you will get the food you need. Our business is to obey and to wait, and His business is, when we are seated, to open His hand and let the mercy drop. So much for the preparations for this great miracle. 

— Alexander Maclaren 

The Sufficient Hands of God

El Shaddai: God Is Enough

God's name, "El Shaddai," occurs 48 times in the Old Testament, predominantly in Genesis and Job. It seems odd that Job, who lost everything and was in such desperate need, would identify God as "All-Sufficient." Why might this be?

"To realize God's sufficiency, we must realize our own insufficiency" 

— myredeemerlives.com

 Although Job was a pretty good guy, his sufficiency rested in God's provision, not his righteousness. I find it helpful to remember that God owes me nothing. That is what makes His grace so profoundly precious.

I like the breakdown. Look at the Hebrew name El Shaddai, which is related to His power and provision. The first part of the name, "El," in Hebrew means "mighty, strong, prominent, and powerful." "Elohim" is the plural version of the word "El." We can envision a powerful and prominent God who created all things.

Ah, Lord GOD (El)! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You. 

— Jeremiah 32:17 

Feeding 10,000 people with five loaves and two fish is not too difficult for Him. Whatever trial and circumstance, personality, or problem confronts us, it is not too difficult for Him. He created all things, and by Him, all things are sustained.

The Son was there before anything was made.
And all things continue because of him.

— Colossians 1;17 ERV

Ox is the strong, dependable one. The shepherd's staff represents the leader. Breastfeeding indicates sufficiency

The Pictograph Interpretation

The pictographs representing the Hebrew letters that spell "El Shaddai" are especially helpful and confirmatory. The first letter of the Hebrew word "El אל" is an Aleph א, represented by an ox, and expresses the idea of something strong, dependable, and leading. It is also the first letter of the Aleph-Bet, indicating what is first and supreme. The second letter, Lamed ל, represents a shepherd's staff and symbolizes authority. Therefore, El אל (God) is supremely strong and powerful, with authority over every situation and circumstance. 

"Shaddai" Symbolizes the Sufficiency Aspect of Nursing

"Shaddai 'שד," the second part of El Shaddai אל שדי, is also an interesting compound word depicting the sufficiency of breastfeeding. Shad שד is the Hebrew word for breast, and according to Gesenius, dai 'ד means sufficient, significant enough quantity, abundance, and plenty. 

... the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 

— 1Timothy 1:14

The benefits and qualities of breastfeeding will provide substance for our understanding of this particular facet of God's character that can also empower us.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. 

— Ephesians 3:20-21

Breast milk is an entirely sufficient means to provide everything a baby needs nutritionally. It has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, protein, and antibodies that help the baby's immune system fight off illness-causing agents. As babies look to their mothers for this all-sufficient sustenance, we will look to El Shaddai for ours.

The eyes of all look expectantly to You,
And You give them their food in due season.
You open Your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

— Psalm 145:15-16

Baby formula cannot duplicate these precious qualities, illustrating that there is no other substitute that can satisfy us entirely but God Himself.

He (God) satisfies the longing soul,
And fills the hungry soul with goodness.

— Psalm 107:9

Another remarkable thing about breastfeeding is that whatever the baby needs, the breasts will make it. There is always enough, which communicates the idea of abundance and plenty. In every situation where we are not enough or do not have enough, we are called to depend on Him. That is what grace is—dependence on His sufficiency.

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 

— 2 Peter 1:2-4

Bible scholar F.C. Jennings adds to this thought in the following quote.

"The Gospel grows as we grow. We grow and find greater breadth, greater length in the Gospel to meet the greater need."

In the Old Testament, most references to El Shaddai, typically translated as "God Almighty," refer to God making provision and bestowing blessings.

In viewing the all-powerful, all-authoritative Father, we can also see a maternal type of love, nurture, and provision.

Can a woman forget her nursing child, 

And not have compassion on the son of her womb? 

Surely they may forget, 

Yet I will not forget you. 

— Isaiah 49:15

When God is about to satisfy His promise to give Abraham a son, He identifies Himself as El Shaddai.

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God (El Shaddai, All-Sufficient One) 

— Genesis 17:1

When Isaac sent Jacob to Padanaram to take a wife, he blessed him with the following.

And God Almighty (El Shaddai, All Sufficient One) bless you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, that thou may be a multitude of people; And give you the blessing of Abraham, to you, and to your seed with you; that thou may inherit the land where you are a stranger, which God gave to Abraham. 

— Genesis 28:3-4

Jacob, when he was old and sick, described how El Shaddai blessed him and caused him to be fruitful and multiply. 

Then Jacob said to Joseph: “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people, and give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.’ 

— Genesis 48:3-4

used by permission photo by the late Gerry Channer

An Invitation

An invitation from Jesus to come to Him with everything concludes this study.

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” 

— Matthew 11:28

The invitation in the above verse brings great comfort to my soul. As I sit in the middle of significant conflicts swirling all around me, I find myself insufficient for even the simplest tasks related to any of them. All I have to do is bring Him what I have, which is much of nothing, and trust that He is the God who is enough and that His grace is sufficient for me and everyone in these situations.

Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.

— Psalm 42:11

He is our Father and Mother, our Lord and God, our faithful friend and brother, our refuge and fortress, our high tower and deliverer. He is everything we need and the God who is enough.

A Few Parting Quotes

"There is never a time you're not in His thoughts, never a time without grace, never a time when He turns away from any need you face. There is never a time you're not in His heart, never a time without love, never a time when you're not blessed with good things from above! 

— Roy Lessin "Always Loved" 

"The divine Spirit can give you, in your want, a greater plenty than the rich have in their abundance" 

— Spurgeon 

"True strength is found in understanding our weakness and Christ's sufficiency" 

— Nelson Study Bible notes

"Lord, I crawled across the barrenness to you with my empty cup, uncertain in asking for any small drop of refreshment. If only I had known you better, I'd have come running with a bucket." 

— Nancy Spiegelberg

© 2011 Tamarajo

Sources

http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/why-breastfeeding-is-important/

http://www.myredeemerlives.com/namesofgod/el-shaddai.html

1 Quoted from the book "Satan," F.C. Jennings, early 1900s author