Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty. – Isaiah 13:6

Today's Scripture Reading (March 24, 2023): Isaiah 12 & 13

In the early 1980s, Michael Card and John Thompson wrote a song that Amy Grant would make a hit. The song, El Shaddai, was notable because it contained a significant amount of Hebrew in the chorus, which is unusual for contemporary Christian music. The song is a song of praise to a God who never changes. The song talks about the salvation of Isaac from being sacrificed by Abraham, which was done by God's love and combined with his providential action of providing a Ram. The song also talks about Israel's exodus through the Red Sea, God's provision for Hagar, Sarah’s handmaiden, the path to freedom for Israel coming out of Egypt, and the coming of the Messiah.

The chorus of the song is where we find the Hebrew.

            El Shaddai, El Shaddai (God Almighty, God Almighty)

            El-elyon na Adonai (God Most High, we come to you Lord)

            Age to age you’re still the same

            By the power of the name

El Shaddai, El Shaddai (God Almighty, God Almighty)

Erkamka na Adonai (I love you, my Lord)

I will praise and lift you high

El Shaddai (God Almighty).

The song focuses on the positive side of God's power over the earth; as Hagar said, "Surely, you are the God who sees us" (a paraphrase of Genesis 16:13).

But there is also a negative side. Isaiah sees a day when the people will wail because of the power of the Almighty (the Hebrew word used in this verse is El Shaddai). Yes, he is the God who saved Israel and Hagar, but he is also the God who will destroy those who refuse to follow his ways. Or maybe more appropriately, El Shaddai will one day refuse to use his power to save us. On that day, he will leave us to the natural consequences of our actions, and we will suffer as we receive what we deserve. However, that is not the result that God wants. Everyone would be saved if it were up to him (2 Peter 3:9).

But God, who in the beginning gave us the ability to choose good or evil, will ultimately give us what we want. It seems to be the curse of the human race that we can't hate what is wrong and causes all of us harm and, instead, love what is good.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Isaiah 14