Names of God - El Elyon

Before we learn about this next name of God we have to do a little context review to get the whole powerful punch of the moment.

If you recall in Genesis 12 God called out to a man named Abram from Ur of the Chaldean's. He didn't explain who He was. He didn't give any detailed message. He simply said something like, "you Abram, go now" and Abram said "okay". I often wonder exactly how God appeared to Abram. I mean Moses got a burning bush... I guess I'll have to ask for that first hand account when I see him in eternity :-)

Okay back to Abram, so the Lord calls him out and sends him to a place that He will show him when he gets there. Now that's our God for us, "here go and I am not going to tell you where, but if you will listen closely as you go, then you'll get there... and you will learn lessons all the way... because I already know that you are not a very good listener... but you will learn to be as you go."

Abram heads out, in slight obedience, which is full disobedience. God told him to leave his family, but he took them with him... yeh the not so good listening skills part. So there were things that needed to happen to help Abram get back on the right track and you can read all about it in Genesis 12 and Genesis 13.

Now by Genesis 14 God has Abram and Sarai separated from all the rest of their family. So now here is Abram following a God he does not know all that well and now all his family is gone, they might have thought he was crazy in following this God, but they at least loved him anyway, right. Now it's just him and Sarai.

Then the word comes that his nephew has been taken captive and so Abram and his men and his God go to battle against five kings, yes that's right five kings. Guess who wins? Yep, ding-ding-ding, Abram! The amazing thing in this chapter is who Abram gets the opportunity to meet after the battle is over.

Finally after all this time he get to meet a man who not only follows the same God he has been following, but this man knows Him and can teach him about this God.

Hmmmm what a coincidence... :-)

This man's name is Melchizedek and he is king and priest of Salem and he introduces Abram to God as God Most High or El Elyon. 

Abram learns this day that this God that has called him out and that he has been following is not just any god. He is not one of the many gods that Abram has heard about throughout his life and travels... this God is El Elyon, God Most High.

Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
Isaiah 46:9

He is the God of gods.

Blessed be Abram of God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth; 

 And blessed be God Most High,
Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.

Genesis 14:19-20 

From this encounter with Melchizedek we learn right along with Abram that our God is not only the Creator God who created the heavens and the earth, but He is the Possessor of heaven and earth. He owns it, it is in His hands and all that it is in it.  

 For the world is Mine, and all it contains.

Psalm 50:12

We also learn right along with Abram that his victory over the enemies was not his, he did not accomplish this in his own strength and strategic planning. God Most High delivered them into his hands... as He will our enemies if He will just trust Him.

To know that God will deliver us from our enemies we have to recognize that we will have enemies. We will face enemies in our life. Difficult days and people and trials will come, but we must remember who the Possessor of each day is and trust that He is with us. Our difficulties are for a purpose, our battles will teach us more of who our God is if we will just face them and let Him fight for us.

That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun
That there is no one besides Me.
I am the LORD, and there is no other,
The One forming light and creating darkness,
Causing well-being and creating calamity;
I am the LORD who does all these.

Isaiah 45:6-7

Our El Elyon holds us in His hands and He holds our nation in His hands. No king rises or falls without the permission the God Most High. Nebuchadnezzar got to learn this lesson the hard way...

this is the interpretation, O king,

and this is the decree of the Most High,

which has come upon my lord the king: 

that you be driven away from mankind

and your dwelling place be with the beasts of the field,

and you be given grass to eat like cattle

and be drenched with the dew of heaven;

and seven periods of time will pass over you,

until you recognize that the Most High

is ruler over the realm of mankind

and bestows it on whomever He wishes. 

And in that it was commanded to leave the stump

with the roots of the tree,

your kingdom will be assured to you

after you recognize that it is Heaven that rules.

Daniel 4:24-26

I don't know about you but I had rather learn about my God through stumbling through obedience than leg striping disobedience. Crawling around on all fours and eating grass just doesn't sound like much fun to me...