The Names of God - El Elyon

THE NAMES OF GOD

EL ELYON (El Ely-OWN)

(God Most High, Possessor of Heaven and Earth)

"...then I shall bow with humble adoration, And then proclaim, my GOD, HOW GREAT THOU ART"   (How Great thou art, hymn)

How appropriate to start out this discussion about the Name of God, El Elyon, with the words of a wonderful old hymn that proclaims to God, God Most High, How Great Thou Art!

Last week we discovered that El was the singular noun used in Ancient times for God.  Elohim is the plural of El, and yet referred to God the Creator, the One and Only True God of Hebrew Scriptures, the Bible.  This week we will discuss a compound Name of El; El Elyon which means God Most High.  

As we move forward into Genesis we will be introduced to Abram, the man who would eventually be named by God as Abraham, the Father of the Nation of Israel along with Isaac and Jacob.  In Genesis, chapter 13, Abram has moved from his home in Haran and set out for the land of Canaan, the land that Yahweh promised to Abram and his descendants.  Lot, Abram's nephew, had started out with Abram when they left their home country, but now Lot and Abram had decided to go their separate ways.  Lot had moved his family and belongings East toward Sodom and Abram moved his tents, family and belongings toward Mamre at Hebron. 

Chapter 14 of Genesis finds Lot in a precarious predicament.  He was captured by invading Kings during the first war ever recorded in human history.  Abram sets out to deliver Lot and his family with 318 "trained servants."  With only these handful of men, Abram traveled over 140 miles defeated the invaders and rescued Lot, and took all the plunder left by the retreating Kings.  By verse 17, Abram is on his way back to to his home; he, his men, Lot and his family, all of the captives and the entire plunder left by the  retreating kings.  While on his journey back home Abram meets two Kings, the King of Salem and the King of Sodom.  Two very different Kings.  One beautiful revelation of just who God is.

The first King was King Melchizedek, the King and Priest of Salem. Melchizedek means "My King is Righteous" and  Salem means "peace." The city of Salem is generally thought of as the ancient Jerusalem.  King Melchizedek is only mentioned three times in scripture of which this is the first.  Many believe that Melchizedek is a typology of Jesus Christ (Prophet, Priest and King).  Jesus serves as our High Priest in Heaven and Melchizedek was serving as God's appointed High Priest to Abram and to his own city of Salem or ancient Jerusalem.  In Genesis 14:18 Melchizedek is described as both the "King of Salem" and the "Priest of the most high God (El Elyon)."   In fact King Melchizedek serves Abram the covenant meal of bread and wine, serving as the High Priest and then he accepts a tithe of all that Abram owns (when translated means "tenth.")  This is very significant, Melchizedec was receiving the first ever tithe even before tithing was instituted by God and he was appointed and anointed as "Priest of the Most High."  Only Jesus was appointed that by God, both foretold in Psalm 110:4 and reaffirmed in Hebrew 7:3.  Jesus was appointed as Priest of the Most High by God after the order of Melchizedek.  Jesus was not a Levite, so therefore he was not a priest of the Levites, the Levitical Priesthood anointed by God for Israel.  Instead, Jesus was anoint Priest of the order of Melchizedek and King of Judah.  Judah was the tribe of which Jesus descended.  Melchizedek introduced a whole new dimension of God through his acts and blessings to Abram and he introduced him to El Elyon, the God Most High, the Possessor of all things.

Genesis 14: 17 - 20 states: "Then King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine.  He was a priest of El Elyon.  He blessed Abram, and said, 'Blessed is Abram by El Elyon, maker of heaven and earth.  Blessed is El Elyon, who has handed your enemies over to you.'  Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything." 


 King Melchizedek took Abram's understanding of God from El, the One and Only true God, to El Elyon, God most High; from Elohim, creator of Heaven and Earth, to El Elyon possessor of Heaven and Earth.

Next the King of Sodom approached Abram.  This is the same King of Sodom of Sodom and Gomorrhha, the evil cities that God would eventually reign down his wrath in judgement upon.This evil king wanted his people back from Abram but suggested that Abram keep the spoils that were taken from him in battle.  Mind you, this 'plunder' was not just junk in your trunk, these spoils would have consisted of thousands of cattle, sheep, donkeys, weapons, clothing, jewelry, gold and precious stones.  But Abram's answer was swift and sure, NO!  Abram had now sworn an oath to El Elyon, The God Most High, The Owner and Possessor of all things, he would not partake in any evil thing from the King of Sodom.  He returned unto the king of Sodom all of his people except Lot and his family and all of the king's possessions; all of the loot from at least two kings and several battles.  Abram was now completely sold out to the God of all things, the God most Loved, El Elyon!!

You see Abram had now come to realize that the God who had promised him descendants to number the grains of sand was God Almighty, the God Most High, the Possessor of Heaven and Earth, the One and Only El Elyon!!  This same God led him into battle against at least 5 kings and all their soldiers and Abram defeated them all with his 318 men...God is Mighty and Most High Indeed.   He wanted God to receive all the glory for his riches, his possessions, not the King of Sodom, Abram would not let Satan steal God's Glory.  Amen and Amen.  He allowed the King of Sodom to take his possessions because he (Abram) served El Elyon the one who possessed all that the King of Sodom owned or would ever own, the possessor of all that was, is and has been.

Are we so detached from this world?  Have our eyes and heart been opened to who God is?  Can we honestly say that we "know" deep inside that He, El Elyon, possessor of all that we own in this world, right down to the very breath that we take?  Have we allowed the Possessor of all things truly possess us in our inner-most being, in all that we have, in all that we are?

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for revealing yourself to us in so many ways, through Abram, through Melchizedek, and through your precious Son, Jesus Christ.  May we, through these revelations be able to worship you more truly and praise you more highly.  May we lift our voices in praise of the One True God, the God who possesses the Earth and the Heavens, God most High, Our Supreme God, and Most Beloved God, El Elyon.   May we submit all that we are to you, forever and ever.   Amen and Amen

***References:

Lester Sumrall, "The Names of God: God's Name brings hope, Healing, and Happiness"

Ann Spangler, "The Names of God; 52 Bible Studies"

Nathan Stone, "The Names of God by Moody Classics"

David Wilkerson, "Knowing God by Name"

 "The Names of God Bible", God's Word Translation. Ann Spangle - General Editor