Divine Names: El Elyon-the Strongest Strong God Pt. 2

Good Morning all readers....

I hope that you all had opportunities to worship the Lord today. We had a joyous day with our church family. The storms that rolled through our area did not dampen our spirits!

We are going to look more into the storm that Abram faced when his nephew Lot, was taken captive, along with many other people. He needed to do something to help Lot, but what could he do against such a powerful coalition as the one he would face? 

We continue looking into Genesis 14 to see the events unfolding that precede the the text where the name El Elyon is used.  At this point, Abram's nephew, Lot, has been captured by some of the warring tribes involved in the conflicts of this chapter. We are going to see Abram mount a swift and decisive response to this crisis.

ABRAM RISKED EVERYTHING TO RESCUE LOT BECAUSE HE TRUSTED GOD

Genesis 14: 13-16 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram. And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

He took his loyal trained servants who numbered about 318, and pursued after the kings, who were led by Chedorlaomer. Abram and his servants followed hard after them all the way to the village of Dan. He covered a distance of about 200 miles. 

Abraham devised a strategy to split up into smaller groups and attack them at night, from different directions.  No doubt when the enemy was attacked from all sides, they probably thought a much larger army had come after them, and they fled. 

Abraham then successfully rescued all of the people, including Lot, and all of the material goods that had been taken by the enemy.

WHAT KIND OF MAN WAS ABRAM BEFORE HE HEARD FROM GOD?

Abraham and his family came from Ur Of the Chaldees in the land of Babylon. They were idolatrous pagans who practiced polytheism.  We know this from a text written by Joshua. Yet, God spoke to Abram and Abram responded with faith. 

Joshua 24:1-2 And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.

NO ONE CAN PLEASE GOD WITHOUT FAITH. 

The following texts from Hebrews tell us of the importance of faith in God. Abram obeyed God way back in Ur, when God told him to leave the land of his family and travel to a place that he did not know. 

Note how the text says that by exercising faith in God, saints of old subdued kingdoms, were brave in battle and caused the enemy to run. These texts would seem to also apply to Abraham in this narrative as he defeated what was arguably a superior army. 

Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Hebrews 11:33-34 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 

Exercising faith in God by trusting Him with life’s challenges is the preferred response for Christians, who are under pressure from the circumstances of their life. 

NOTICE THE REACTION OF BERA WHEN ABRAM RETURNS VICTORIOUS. 

Genesis 14:17-24 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale. And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.

Remember, I pointed out that Bera king of Sodom was like a picture of Satan. How he acted toward Abram when he returned triumphantly, is very revealing. 

BERA WENT OUT TO MEET ABRAM

Bera went out to meet Abraham when he returned with the people and goods. The phrase “went out to meet” means that Bera had a specific evil purpose in mind when he went out to meet Abraham.

BERA TEMPTED ABRAM WITH RICHES AND SPOILS OF WAR

Bera tempts Abraham by telling him he could keep all the riches and spoils that he recovered. 

TWO CONTRASTING KINGS MEET ABRAM

Abraham was greeted by two totally different kings. A vile king and a Godly king and priest who serves the highest God (El-Elyon). The temptation in this instance was that Abraham might covet the spoils of war, and align himself with Bera instead of Godly Melchisedek.  

Bera shows what his true intent is. He wanted the souls of the people. This is why he is a picture of the devil. A couple of texts from the New testament will illustrate what Satan is all about.

In Ephesians, Satan is called the prince of the power of the air. He is the evil spirit at work in the children of disobedience. 

Ephesians 2:2-3 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

In Peter's letter, Satan is compared to a roaring lion. He is on the prowl, seeking souls that he may devour. 

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

To seek and devour means the devil has an intense craving for our souls and wants to swallow us up, gulp us down and destroy us. The devil wants to send our soul to hell, but God provides victorious salvation to all who will turn to Jesus Christ in repentant faith.


Points to Ponder....

• Abram used to be an idolater, until he exercised faith in the One, True God of heaven.

• Abram was led by God and through many trials and troubles, he learned to trust God more fully.

• We saw our active adversary at work seeking to tempt people with riches and seeking to gain control over people's souls. 

• We saw that only faith can please God, and that means exercising repentant faith in His provision of salvation through Christ. 

In the next post, we will learn about the other king, Melchizedek. We will see how Melchizedek's actions show that he is a type of Jesus Christ portrayed in the Old Testament. We will also see whether Abram passed the test of being tempted by Bera. And, we will see that wonderful name of God, El Elyon. 

Bob