Mensa Otabil - El-Elyon
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Welcome to a brand new day. We are continuing our study of the names of God, and today we look at the name El Elyon. We find this in Genesis chapter 14, verses 18 and 19. Then Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. He blessed him and said, «Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth.»
Melchizedek is a very interesting biblical character. He is the first person named as a priest unto God, encountering Abraham, through whom God reveals Himself to the rest of the world as the one Creator God. This meeting between Melchizedek and Abraham is very important. If you look at the passage, Melchizedek is introduced as a priest of God Most High, and that phrase «God Most High» in Hebrew is El Elyon.
«El» is based on Elohim, and «Elyon» means highest, or something that is the highest of all-so God, who is higher than all, is God Most High. He spoke to Abraham and said, «Abraham, God Most High, the Most High God has blessed you.» This is after Abraham fought a battle against five armies and won, using only domestic servants in this big battle. Melchizedek says to Abraham, «You won this battle because God Most High was with you.» Not just the Creator God, but the one who is above all.
Melchizedek is very important in introducing God to us as the Most High God. You know, many times when you live in our world and read the news or listen to what is happening all over the world, it seems as if things are bizarre and out of control-nobody is in charge. But there is someone in charge, and His name is El Elyon, God Most High.
God Most High means three things. First, it means the Lord is supreme; He is above all. He sits on top of all the powers anywhere, whether they be gods, dominions, thrones, powers, or systems-wherever they are, He is supreme. He sits on top of it all, above everything. Secondly, El Elyon means the Lord is sovereign; that means He is greater than all. He is God all by Himself; He doesn’t need permission to be God, nor does He need anyone’s approval to be God.
In a country like Ghana, we have a president, but we permit him to be president because we vote for him. We allow people to be kings, but Jehovah God is sovereign all by Himself and doesn’t need anybody’s permission to be who He is. That’s what El Elyon means; He is supreme and sovereign, owning Himself without needing anyone’s permission.
The third point is that the Lord is the strongest. El Elyon means He is the strongest and can disarm all the armies of the world because He is stronger than any of them. Abraham experienced this when he went into battle with 318 servants against five kings and came out victorious. Melchizedek said, «Abraham, you achieved all of this because the Most High was with you.» The highest of all, the superior one, the supreme one, the sovereign one, the strongest one is on your side.
And guess what? God has not relinquished His rule as El Elyon. He is still El Elyon to you. He is supreme, sovereign, and strongest, and no matter what you get yourself involved in, if He is on your side, you have the best on your side.
Let us pray. Say with me: Heavenly Father, You are God Most High. There is none comparable to You. My eyes are fixed on You. In Jesus' name, amen and amen. That’s why we put our eyes on Him, because He is El Elyon, the highest one. I’ll catch you again tomorrow. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.