Series: Knowing God [#4]
El ELYON- THE GOD WHO IS IN CHARGE
Genesis 14:18
Introduction:
We are studying the names of God in the order they are found in the Bible because there is a clear progression in the self-revelation of God to His people through His names. We have gotten better acquainted with God by studying 2 of His names. This morning, we will get to know God better by yet another name through which He reveals Himself. The name is El Elyon. This is the 1st of the compound, or combined, names for God found in the Bible.
El Elyon is 1st found in Genesis 14:18. There were 5 Kings, 2 of which were Sodom and Gomorrah; who drew up battles lines against 4 Kings. The 5 Kings were being defeated and they fled. The 4 Kings took all of Sodom and Gomorrah’s goods and food. They also took Lot and his possessions. Someone went and reported to Abraham that his nephew Lot had been taken. Abraham gathered 318 trained men and they went to get Lot back.
Genesis 14:16-20 (NIV)
“He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people. After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”
The name El Elyon tells us…
1. That God is the Most High God.
The name El Elyon is translated the Most High God or God Most High. El is an abbreviated form of the name Elohim, which refers to God as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. The Hebrew name “Elyon” means “the Most High” or “highest”. El Elyon is used less than 30 times.
The name El Elyon tells us…
2. That God is able to deliver us from our enemies.
After this great victory against far superior forces, Abraham was visited by Melchizedek. Melchizedek is described as “the priest of God Most High” or El Elyon. Melchizedek blesses Abraham and tells him that it is “God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." God is able to deliver us from our enemies. God keeps our spiritual enemies from overcoming us. It is El Elyon Who is able to defeat all our enemies.
The name El Elyon tells us…
3. That God created everything, and it all belongs to Him.
Abraham was so overcome by El Elyon’s grace in giving him the victory that he gave Him a tithe of all he had. Why did he give a tithe to God? God created everything that exists, and it all belongs to Him. Therefore, when Abraham gave his tithe he was only returning a portion of what God had given him. The Bible makes it clear that everything we have comes from God.
Conclusion:
It is God Most High who died for you on the cross. The God who created everything took the form of a man and lived a perfect life so that He could pay our price for sin. He did this so that He could deliver you from your enemy.
