When I was little I was called Cece. My sister still calls me that. I also have a niece named after me and she is called Cece. When I was a young adult I was called Cec (pronounced Cease). I went by this until just a few years ago when I was tired of the "cease fire" and "cease to exist" jokes. When I worked at Gospel Rescue Mission I was called " Miss Cece". Working with children Cece is easy for them to say and remember. I'm leaning toward Cece again.
God has many names. Too numerous to list here. Maybe I'll do a devotion just on the name's for God. In verse 1 of Genesis 17 He is called El-Shaddai. Here are some translations I found.
Kidner: “A traditional analysis of the name is ‘God (el) who (sa) is sufficient (day).”
Clarks: “El shaddai, I am God all-sufficient; from shadah, to shed, to pour out. I am that God who pours out blessings, who gives them richly, abundantly, continually.”
Barnhouse: "the Hebrew word shad means “chest” or “breast.” It may have in mind the strength of a man’s chest (God Almighty) or the comfort and nourishment of a woman’s breast (God of Tender Care)."
Leupold: "Shaddai comes from the root shadad, which means “to display power.”
Guzik: "We do know the Septuagint translates the word with the Greek pantokrator “Almighty,” the “One who has His hand on everything.”
In verse 5 of Chapter 17 God changed Abram’s name from Abram (father of many) to Abraham (father of many nations). Although the many nations isn't something Abraham will see in his lifetime, two nations were spawned during Abrahams life. The Jewish nation from his son Isaac and the Muslim nation from Ishmael.
God also promised Abraham and his descendants the land of Israel. Not just the little nation we know as Israel today but the entire land from the Euphrates River south to the land of Egypt. It was east to west from the Mediterranean Sea to the River Jordan. Today the land of Israel is much smaller than God intended.
One other point I want to make. Verse 1 states "the LORD appeared to him". I believe this is a Christophany, an appearance of Jesus in the Old Testament. I believe this for one simple reasons. John 1:18 "No one has ever seen God."
Genesis 17:1-8 NLT
Abram Is Named Abraham
1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life. 2 I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants.”
3 At this, Abram fell face down on the ground. Then God said to him, 4 “This is my covenant with you: I will make you the father of a multitude of nations! 5 What’s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations. 6 I will make you extremely fruitful. Your descendants will become many nations, and kings will be among them!
7 “I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8 And I will give the entire land of Canaan, where you now live as a foreigner, to you and your descendants. It will be their possession forever, and I will be their God.”
Blessings, Cecilia
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