Divine Names: El Elyon-the Strongest Strong God Pt. 3

Good morning to all of you..

We had such a busy weekend with family visits, cookouts, the Lord's Day services and the utter enjoyment of wonderful weather from the hand of our Heavenly Father. 

Even in the middle of busy conditions, we must not loose sight of what is important. We need to know God relationally and experientially. Looking into the Divine Names helps us know our God better at the relationship level so that we learn to trust Him with all of this life's details. 

We are continuing our study of the Divine Name, El Elyon and seeing it in its context in the book of Genesis. We saw that those times were full of chaos, war and tumult. We also saw the collateral damage inflicted upon life, property, land and people. 

We learned some good principles to apply for Godly living even in a world full of war and heartache. We saw that the nephew of Abram was taken captive by the victorious forces during the battle, along with many other people and their goods and valuables. We saw that Abram was growing spiritually and learning to trust God because he organized a rescue of the captives, even though he was vastly outnumbered by a superior army.

When God granted Abram victory, his return with the people and all their goods and valuables, was marked by the appearance of an evil hearted king names Bera, who is a type of Satan. It was also marked by an unusual priest & king named Melchizedek, and we will learn more about him today.

NOTICE THE ACTIONS OF MELCHIZEDEK IN CONTRAST TO THE ACTIONS OF BERA.

First, Melchizedek ministered to the physical needs of Abram and his small army. He provided food and drink for Abraham. This sustenance was greatly needed after riding 400 miles round trip and fighting a battle and safely bringing all the people and goods home again.

Second, Melchizedek ministered to the spiritual needs of Abram. We are told that Melchizedek was a priest who served El-Elyon. He gave access to God for Abraham. He blessed Abraham as a man who worshipped El Elyon. He reminded Abraham that El Elyon possessed every thing on earth.

Melchizedek proceeded to bless and praise El-Elyon as the God who granted deliverance to Abraham.  He received tithes to God from Abraham. Melchisedek shows us a picture of what God as El-Elyon means to us and does for us. 


In contrast to Melchizedek, Bera went out to meet Abram with evil intentions and his only concern was that Abram would give all the people to him. He sought to tempt or seduce Abram with the offer of all the riches and spoils of war. This was the point of temptation for Abram.

Genesis 14:18-20 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.

NOTICE THE UNIQUENESS OF MELCHIZEDEK.

Melchizedek appears suddenly in the narrative. Nothing about his family is known to us. Yet he is King of Peace and Melchizedek means King of Righteousness. He accepts tithes from Abram. All of this is done to show us that Melchizedek is a picture of Jesus Christ, the true King of Peace and Righteousness.

Hebrews 7:1-3 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 
To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 
Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. 

NOTICE THE FAITH OF ABRAM

The king of Sodom attempted to bribe Abraham and the patriarch was suddenly faced with a choice of trust, belief, and perspective.  Would he live his life as a self-centered man or a God-centered man?  Was Abraham the one who had gained the victory over the enemy kings, or did El Elyon provide the victory, as Melchizedek had said?   Was Bera worthy of worship or was El-Elyon?

Abraham forcefully declared his allegiance to the Most High God. Next, Abraham stedfastly refused to take anything from Bera, king of Sodom. Abraham rightfully recognized that he would be indebted to Bera if he took the spoils that were offered. 

Abraham did not need the spoils of material goods that he retrieved from Sodom when rescuing Lot. Abram knew that the King of Sodom could later boast that he had made Abram rich, but Abram only wanted God to get the credit for blessing him and giving him the victory in the rescue.

Abraham was a man of faith trusting in El Elyon as his God, sovereign over every detail of his life.  Abram had already discovered that the Most High God is the owner of everything. He refused to look for resources for victory from anyone else.  Abram chose to rely on God.  

Abraham shows us by his example of faithfulness that we must take a strong stand for God as El-Elyon and that we must resist and  refuse the temptation offered by Bera who typifies our great enemy. He even refused to take a shoelace from the spoils. 

Genesis 14:22-24 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.

Points to Ponder....

• We have a powerful and malignant enemy.

• We have a most powerful, righteous God of lovingkindness.

• The point of temptation is the allure of the things of this world to our flesh, our old man.

• The path to victory is faith in the true King of Peace and King of Righteousness. 

Satan, our enemy, cares only about damning souls to hell for eternity. He will tempt us to follow him by offering those things that are most desired in our culture: money, power, fame. 

Melchizedek reminds us that there is One, True God of heaven who calls us to follow the unseen things of God: salvation, eternal life, an inheritance in heaven that awaits us.

Hebrews 11:1-2 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 

For by it the elders obtained a good report.

Abram shows us the true path of faith by refusing to entertain any of Bera's offers. He was open and bold in confessing his allegiance to El Elyon. 

Idolatry is vastly different today. If there is anyone whom we love more than we love God, then that is idolatry. If there is anything where I find satisfaction more than I find satisfaction in Jehovah, then it is idolatry. 

May these truths begin to command our attention and be used of God to make us more like His Son, Jesus Christ. 

Bob