The first couple I married 35 years ago are named “Laden.” When they were expecting, I suggested that they name her “weary” or possibly “heavy.” I once new a man named Meek who was always asked if he had inherited the earth. Donald Grey Barnhouse told of a man he knew by the name of Wrench who divided his acquaintances into two classes: Those who did not make wise cracks about his name and those who did. He was often asked “are you related to Monkey?” God likes to change names. in Genesis 17:4-5 he changes Abram’s name to Abraham. The passage says, “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.” He also changes Sarai’s name to Sarah. He changed Jacob’s name to Israel. Simon is changed to Peter and Saul in the New Testament is changed to Paul. One of the promises God had given to Abram was that he would make “his name great.” He certainly did that literally. He added a syllable to Abram’s name which is seen both the Greek translation of the Old Testament and in the Hebrew. It’s also obvious in the English. But I don’t think that’s what this is all about. One of the promises God had given to Abram was that he would make “his name great.” He certainly did that literally. He added a syllable to Abram’s name which is seen both the Greek translation of the Old Testament and in the Hebrew. It’s also obvious in the English. But I don’t think that’s what this is all about.
Can you imagine being named “Abram” which means “father of many” when you didn’t have any children at all? Every time you introduced yourself you’d wait to be asked “how many children do you have?” Whatever response you would come up with, you’d be secretly embarrassed. I suppose that Abraham got used to the smirks on people’s faces when he would answer. Even after Ishmael was born you sure couldn’t call Abram a father of many! But before God changes Abram’s name he introduces himself again to Abram by His own name. He calls Himself “El Shaddai” which means God Almighty. He is able! Then he changes Abram’s name from father of many children, to father of many nations, “Abraham.” He says “I will make you exceedingly fruitful.” Can you imagine what everyone thought when Abram informed them, at 99 years of age, that he didn’t want them to call him “Father of many” but now he wants them to call him “father of many nations.” Everyone must have burst out with laughing. From the human point of view that would seem ridiculous. Of course it would be if God’s name wasn’t “El Shaddai.”
Kent Hughes wraps up his discussion about “El Shaddai” by saying, “Christians, it is the same for us. The way we live is determined by what we think of God. If our God is El-Shaddai, the awesome, mighty God of this account, then our lives will live out the fullness of God’s promises to us. What you truly believe about God is the most important thing in your life. Any thoughts of a God less potent than the God of Abram will shrink your soul and neutralize your faith.”1
1 R. Kent Hughes, Genesis: Beginning and Blessing, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2004), 246.