“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared unto Abram and said unto him, ‘I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.'” Genesis 17:1
The greatness and specifics of God’s revelation of Himself in Christ calls forth from our hearts a response of total devotion. Why? It is because the strength of faith resides in the object of it. In the case of Christianity, it is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in His glory. One aspect of that glory, or revelation of His nature, is revealed in His name, “the Almighty.” From the mention of this name of God to Abram in the book of Genesis, to the last book of the Bible, Revelation, where the glorified Christ declares Himself to be “…the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty,” (Rev.1:8) Christ is revealed as such. With regard to the promise of the coming of the Messiah in the book of Isaiah, we find Him presented to all of humanity in the words: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, MIGHTY GOD, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (9:6) God who came and appeared to Abram when he was ninety-nine years old, declaring that He was Almighty God, is the same who came to Bethlehem’s stall, being that very child to save all men. It is He also who will come as the Judge of all the earth, but now remaining the Great Savior, and Redeemer, ever seeking to save that which is lost. This Almighty God has never changed, having no beginning or ending of days, ever waiting to show Himself strong in behalf of all who will truly trust in Him. So why does faith need to see God, specifically Christ, in this manner? Why is it so very important? Again, the greatness of the vision demands a great, whole-hearted response.
When the Lord revealed Himself to Abram as The Almighty, it was just before the announcement that Sarah, Abram’s wife, who being ninety years old would have a son born unto her. This son would be God’s choice as the heir of God’s promise of fruitfulness and blessing, essentially for the whole world. Isaac would be in the lineage of Christ, not only as a beloved son, but as an example that nothing would be too hard for God. Because God Is the Almighty, sovereign and knowing all things, He would prove to humanity that He is the God of history, that time and the elements of this creation, are under His control. He will bring about His will in His time and way so that men will know that He is God, the only true and living God.
When God revealed Himself to Isaiah through His word, revealing that this child that would be born to us, this Son given, this being declared in Isaiah’s writings about seven hundred years before the coming of Christ, He not only again revealed that He is sovereign, knowing all things, but possessing all power and authority to bring about His perfect will, especially that concerning the redemption of men through Christ. However, in this passage in Isaiah, not only is God seen as Almighty, but Christ Himself. Why is this? God is ever seeking to bring all men, especially believers, to the point of receiving from Him that which He desires to give. If one is to receive Christ in His fulness, and communicate by the Spirit of God Christ to the world, then he must believe that He is Almighty, totally sufficient and willing to meet every need of man.
Lastly, when we see the glorified Christ of the Revelation, we see the Conquering Monarch, or King, and again, the Sovereign Lord. The One who walks among the lampstands, the churches, is the Almighty who is perfectly knowledgeable of all things. He is also the One who gives today life and power.
Dear Father, Work in us mightily. In Jesus’ name, Amen.