El Elyon – The Most High God

We live a world that is largely monotheistic, in other words, most people believe that there is just one God. But in the time when Abraham, Moses, the kings, prophets, and even through Jesus’ and the apostles’ time polytheism was a normal view of diety.

There were always some through all of this time that looked to the One True God. But great power was often consolidated under people who served a pantheon of false “gods”. Priests to these various gods would have held a certain amount of sway in culture and society.

One name of God, “El Elyon”, seems to point to the Absolute Sovereignty of Jehovah. He is God (El) Most High (Elyon).

A couple of the contexts where this name of God is used make the point of God’s Absolute Sovereignty very clear. Then a few others point to God’s “highness” as a position of advantage for those who call on Him. Let’s take a look at a few of these and then draw some applications for our prayer life.

Melchizedek

In Genesis 14 Abram’s nephew, Lot, is captured in a raid on Sodom. When Abram hears about this he gets the men in his camp together and they go and rescue all the people and stuff that were taken in the raids. In the recovery from this battle a priest enters the scene as the “priest of the most high God”

Genesis 14:18-24

“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God (El Elyon).” 
Genesis 14:18

Melchizedek holds a special place as priest and king. While not a lot is known of him as a person the Bible shows that he is significant in the truths that this encounter illustrate (Hebrews 5-7).

Melchizedek uses this name twice in talking to Abram (v. 19-20). Then Abram uses God’s names, El Elyon, clarifying what is this means in verse 22. Abram makes it clear that Jehovah is the El Elyon, “most high God.”

“And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD (Jehovah), the most high God (El Elyon), the possessor of heaven and earth,” 
Genesis 14:22

No one could claim this victory for their “god”, this victory belonged to Jehovah alone.

Nebuchadnezzar

This name for God is used a number of other places in scripture. But one of the most interesting is when it is used by and around king Nebuchadnezzar.

Nebuchadnezzar had just commissioned an idol to be made of himself so that all the land could worship him. But after watching God’s faithful servants survive the furnace he had intended for their death, he went as close to the furnace as he dared and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth^⁠” Dan 3:26

After all he had seen he had to admit that the God these Hebrews served was El Elyon.

Rival gods

This name of God leaves no question about God’s claim to be greater than any idol.

God’s works are real and powerful.

God’s competition is imaginary and inanimate.

Psalm 135 includes this claim about God:

“5 For I know that the LORD is great, And that our Lord is above all gods. 
6 Whatsoever the LORD pleased, That did he in heaven, and in earth, In the seas, and all deep places.” 
Psalm 135:5–6

Verse 5 uses a different word for “above” than “Elyon” but the idea is clear. This is made even more clear in some of the passage that follows.

“15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, 
The work of men’s hands. 
16 They have mouths, but they speak not; 
Eyes have they, but they see not; 
17 They have ears, but they hear not; 
Neither is there any breath in their mouths. 
18 They that make them are like unto them: 
So is every one that trusteth in them.” 
Psalm 135:15–18

There is no rival to God. He is “God Most High”. There is no help greater than His help.

Praying to The Most High God

Psalm 57 is a prayer of David that catches hold of the pictures of this name of God and uses them in prayer in a way that I think we can take inspiration from for our prayer.

Verses 1, 4 and 6 of this psalm show that David is overwhelmed and needs help. David is hiding in a cave from the anger and instability of King Saul. And though his is in a cave David is calling out to God Most High. In verse 2 he boldly says,

“I will cry unto God most high (El Elyon) ; Unto God that performeth all things for me.” 
Psalm 57:2

He is confident in God’s help (v3). His heart is fixed on God and he purposes to praise Him. Though he is in great peril, his main concern is that God is praised. Notice the sentiment of verses 5 (verse 11 repeats these words) and 7:

“Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; 
Let thy glory be above all the earth.” 
Psalm 57:5

“My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: 
I will sing and give praise.” 
Psalm 57:7

Application:

God is above our solutions:

There is no greater help for us than the One True God. There is no more sure person or “god” to put our trust in than the one true God.

We can plot and strategize but there is no substitute for God’s perspective or His solutions. We risk setting up idols in our lives when we seek help from others that should only be sought from God.

God is above our problems:

Look for your answered prayer to come only from on high, and feel free to praise God for Who He Is even before the answer comes.

There is no problem that God cannot solve, no battle He cannot win, no need He cannot meet.

Our earthbound perspective tends to lead us to earthbound solutions or earthbound depression. God reigns on High. High above our biggest concerns.

Studying and Application:

What is the definition of an idol?
- What people or resources do you go to when you’re overwhelmed? Do you ever go to them when you should be going to God Most High?
Purpose to praise God. Even when the answer to what overwhelms you hasn’t come.
Review your prayer list. Take a minute to add any new requests now.

Jehovah Jireh – The Lord will Provide

God told Abraham to Sacrifice his Son Isaac

One night God gave His servant Abraham a very usual instruction.

“And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” 
Genesis 22:2

This was a test. God wanted to see Abrahams faith. He had trusted God for his son, would he trust God with his son?

Imagine Abrahams confusion. This was the son that God had promised to him so long ago. This was answer to his prayers. His pride and joy. Now God wanted Abraham to offer him as a sacrifice.

Abraham was ready to obey God

What do you think Abraham did? the Bible says he got up the next day and got to it. He didn’t hesitate, but immediately prepared for the trip and set out to the mountain that God would show him. He took with him everything he would need to make this sacrifice.

After three days of travel they could see he mountain off in the distance. Abraham left the young men he had brought along with the animals and most of the stuff, then he and Isaac went on to the mountain carrying the wood for the fire, the fire and a knife.

As they climbed Isaac asked a question: “Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” (Gen 22:7) Isaac could see that something was missing, he had surely seen many other offerings performed but this one lacked the key part: the lamb.

Abraham answered: “My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering” (Gen 22:8) Even this close to where God had told him to sacrifice his son, Abraham was sure that God would meet the need.

God Met Abrahams Need

They got the place where the offering was to be made, Abraham set up the altar, laid out the wood. Then he tied up his son, laid him on the wood, and took out the knife that had been brought for him to kill his son as a sacrifice to God.

Just as he was about to use the knife God stopped Abraham

“11 And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 
12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.” 
Genesis 22:11–12

Abraham then looked and behind him a ram was caught in the undergrowth. He used this ram as the substitute for his son. God had provided for the sacrifice. Abraham named the altar “Jehovah-Jireh” beginning the saying: “In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.” (Gen 22:14)

But note: God didn’t provide a “lamb” like the passage leads you to expect. Vereses 16-18 give us an indication of why this is.

God Made a Promise to Abraham that would Meet the needs of all Humanity

In verses 16-18 we see God’s promised blessing of Abraham and his decedents. God would bless his faith and obedience greatly through many generations. This blessing was so great that wouldn’t be just for Abraham’s decendents.

“And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” 
Genesis 22:18

Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of this promise. Jesus is “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Through Him all nations of the earth are blessed. He is the lamb that God provided. And He was sacrificed as a substitute for every human being. God has provided Himself a lamb.

The Lord will still provide for Us

But the gift of Jesus Christ holds one further lesson about how “The Lord will Provide.”

Jesus IS the provision of our greatest need: redemption. But He is also an indication of how far God will go to meet each and every need.

“He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” 
Romans 8:32

If God was willing to give His Only Son as the cost of the provision of our need, what would He withhold.

We tend to spend a pretty good chunk of time in our prayers telling God about our needs and the needs of those we care about. These prayers and supplications don’t fall on deaf ears. God hears, cares, and has proven that He can and will meet our needs.

As we pray, let’s present our needs to the Lord who Provides with understanding that there isn’t a need that He can’t or won’t meet.

Studying and Application:

What are some needs that you have or should present to God? (List them out)
Are you willing to trust God with these needs in the same way Abraham trusted God with his son? Talk to God about the level of trust you currently have.
What promises of God’s provision have given you boldness in prayer?

Adonai

If the president of the United States, or the Governor of your state walked in to the room right now how would you address him? How do you address your boss when you want to show him/her proper respect?

I often use terms like “sir” or “ma’am.” If I want to show respect I won’t call them “dude”. I also don’t ignore the place of authority they have over me.

Respecting God

The name of God we are looking at today is a term of respect. Adoni is used 772 time in the Old Testament. But only 133 of those are in reference to God. It’s other uses are referring to people who hold a position of authority, whether that’s an office or temporary place of influence and power.

Examples of this are when Sarah calls Abraham her “lord”.

“Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” 
Genesis 18:12

Sarah is pointing out the place of authority that Abraham has in her life as her husband.

Later in Genesis 32:18, Jacob calls Esau “my lord”. Esau held no formal place of authority over Jacob, but Jacob submitted to him in this way.

The word formally means: “sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine) [Strong]” This is someone who is in charge for good or ill. But when referring to God it indicates respect and an acknowledgment of the authority that God holds.

Adonai in Prayer

Genesis 18 gives an interesting account where this name of God is used in prayer. Abraham has the unique opportunity to intercede for the people of Sodom before the LORD, face to face.

In one of the most bold prayer times recorded in Scripture, Abraham pleads the case of a wicked people. He looks for God to spare them for the sake of the few righteous peoples that may be in these cities.

Genesis 18 – In Abrahams intercession for Sodom and Gommora he used this title to refer to God in verses 3, 27, 30-32

Abraham hears what God intends to do to the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah in verses 17-22. The cries of the sin and the oppressed have reached the ears of the Just God of the Universe, and justice will come. Then the “men” that were with the LORD went on toward Sodom. And Abraham began to speak to the LORD.

Abraham begins, “Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?” Genesis 18:23b

As Abraham begins his appeal God agrees to spare the city if 50 righteous people are found in it. (Gen 18:26)

Then Abraham appeals again. This time for mercy if 5 of the 50 are lacking, and God agrees to spare the city if 45 righteous people are found in it. (Gen 18:27-28)

In this second appeal though Abraham makes this statement:

“… Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes” 
Gen 18:27

The word “Lord” is translating Adoni. Abraham is making an appeal based on the ultimate authority that God holds. He acknowledged that he, himself was nothing, just “dust and ashes.”

Abrahams humility is seen further on as well. Through this passage he continues to make appeals to God for the sake of Sodom, each time lowering the number of “righteous” people for whom God would spare the city.

Verse 29 we see God will spare it for 40, in verse 30 God agrees to spare the city for 30, then 20 in verse 31 and finally 10 in verse 32.

In the last three of these appeals Abraham uses the name Adoni in his appeal. Abraham knew God’s authority and he wanted that to be clear in how he prayed.

Application

This prayer session between God and His friend Abraham (James 2:23) illustrate how submission to God’s authority and boldness in prayer can go hand-in-hand.

Just as Abraham interceded with the goal of changing God’s chosen course, we can have boldness to pray on behalf of those that seem to be headed to certain destruction. We can acknowledge and respect God’s absolute authority and pray for God to answer our prayer.

Abraham wasn’t praying to prove a point or to teach a lesson on intercessory prayer, he was pleading with God for the sake of his nephew Lot and his family who had moved to Sodom and been caught up in the depraved lifestyle of that city. (See Genesis 13:1-13 for the story behind Lot’s move to Sodom.)

Pray with concern, real concern. Pray knowing that God holds absolute authority in the matter you are praying about. Pray boldly. Pray.

Studying and Application:

Think back on some answered prayers, how has God shown in these that He has absolute authority? How have these effected your prayer life?
Is there anything that you haven’t had the boldness to prayer for/about yet? In a humble spirit add those things to your prayer list this week.
Review your prayer requests from last week. How has God worked in these areas you’ve been praying about? Take a minute to add any new requests to your list now.