El Shaddai is our name to focus on today: Christianity Today explains, Translated as the “Almighty God”, El is another name translated as God and Shaddai derives from the Hebrew word for Mountain. In the Bible, mountains often refer to nations, so El Shaddai reveals that our God is God of the nations. There is no place where he is not Lord, and no place is too far from his presence; he has total authority. In Genesis 17 when God promises Abraham that he and Sarah will have a child, he reassures Abraham of his authority by saying: “I AM El Shaddai.”

Read the following references in Genesis to this name and jot down what you glean:

• Genesis 17:1
• Genesis 28:3
• Genesis 35:11
• Genesis 43:14
• Genesis 48:3

Listen to this song and just spend some time reflecting:

In Genesis 22 which we read last month, Abraham calls God “Jehovah Jireh” – the God who provides, when He provides the ram in the thicket to be sacrificed instead of his son, Isaac.

John 1:29 refers to Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”- He has come to be the sacrifice instead of you and I.

The very first thing that God wants to provide for you is Himself- a relationship with Him made possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus. He is our Provider- our Jehovah Jireh.

• How did you first experience this? Spend some time remembering.
• Who could you share this story with this week?
• How, since then, have you seen God to be your provider?

If you are wondering if you have ever asked God to provide for you in this way, if you have ever experiences salvation, please reach out to one of our pastors or leaders- they would love to talk to you.

In Genesis 1:1 we get introduced to God as Elohim: mighty, strong, prominent- the creator God.

Read Psalm 19:1-14

• What stands out to you from these verses?
• If God is indeed the supreme creator of everything we see around us, how does that impact His laws that are given to us?
• How do you feel about the way that God created you?
• How does God calling Himself mighty, creator, and strong impact your life and circumstances today?
• Where do you need God to be mighty today? Spend some time praying and talking to Him about this.

God basically lays out the whole story in chapter 3: Moses was the one chosen to lead, God would move with miracles and wonders, the people would plunder the Egyptians, and they would worship at the very mountain Moses was standing on right then. What a spoiler for us!

In Exodus 3:14 He also shares His name: “I AM” with Moses.

This week, we are going to look at some of the names God uses in the scriptures to reveal Himself. Christianity Today describes it like this: “Often pronounced as ‘Yahweh’ or ‘Jehovah’, ‘YHWH’ is the promised name of God revealed to Moses when he asked what name he should give to the Israelites: “I Am who I Am” (Exodus 3:14). It is the name of God that Jesus uses during his earthly ministry – the great “I am”. It refers to the eternal nature of God; unlike us, who become, he always is. The name is too holy to be spelt out in full in the Jewish culture, hence why the Hebrew abbreviates to YHWH. The name suggests that he is a present God who is accessible, offers deliverance (Psalm 107:13), forgiveness (Psalm 25:11) and guidance (Psalm 31:3)”

Read Psalm 25:1-11

• What do you learn about who God is from this section?
• How does God being eternal, but also being completely present to you today, impact you in real ways?

We’ve covered a lot of ground this week.

Read Exodus 3:1-22

God promises Moses that He will be with him and that Moses will worship God.

We have that same opportunity this morning. Spend some time praying (look back at the format from Thursday), and preparing your heart to be with the body!

Finally, Blackaby says that God speaks to us through the church- His people.

Read 1 Corinthians 12:7-27

• What stands out to you about the body of Christ from this passage?
• Why do you think God has interconnected us in such intimate ways?

As we all fall under the headship of Jesus –

read Ephesians 4:1-16– we each have His wisdom to offer each other.

• Are you in a Home Group? Why or Why Not?
• If you are, how have you seen others around you speak into your life and circumstances?
• What are some practical steps you could take today to be more attached to the body at Riverside?

So daily we can put ourselves in front of His word asking the Holy Spirit to teach us.

Daily we can pray and listen for the Holy Spirits voice speaking to us.

We can also examine the circumstances around us. God often uses our circumstances to show us where He is already at work and point out ways that we can join Him in that work.

He also challenges us to know the truth about Him so that we can stand upright in the midst of terrifying circumstances.

Read Luke 7:11-17

• In what ways can you relate to the hopelessness of this situation?
• What do you learn about who God is from this story?
• While we are never guaranteed a certain outcome, we can know who God is in the midst of the dark.

Read John 6:1-15

• How would you see the circumstance if you were the disciples?
• We know the ending, but I love the disciple’s simple obedience. They knew Jesus and they obeyed, trusting Him.
• What circumstance are you facing today that you need to hear from God about? Pray and ask Him.