El Elyon

 

After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. (Genesis 14:17-20 ESV).

 

Today we see another name for God that occurs in the Old Testament. It is also a compound of the general name for God, “El.” It reveals another important quality of God’s character. It is “Elyon,” a Hebrew word meaning “go up” or “ascend.” So the name El Elyon reveals God as “The Most High God.” The name El Elyon isn’t used often, but it occurs three times in our reading for today.

 

In Genesis 14 we read about battles taking place between several kings in the Valley of Siddim, near the Dead Sea. In these skirmishes, Lot, Abram’s nephew, is taken captive. After Abram rescues Lot, he meets up with the defeated kings in another valley near Jerusalem. Then Melchizedek, the king of Salem (Jerusalem), brings Abram an offering of bread and wine. We know almost nothing about Melchizedek, except that “he was priest of God Most High [El Elyon].” With this offering Melchizedek bestows on Abram a blessing from “God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.”

 

How does Abram respond? He acknowledges the blessing of the Creator God by giving Melchizedek a tenth of all his possessions. But Abram’s offering isn’t to Melchizedek; it is to El Elyon, “the Most High God.” We should note that neither Melchizedek nor God required such and offering. Abram gave the offering as a means of expressing his gratitude and acknowledging the great work he had performed in saving Lot. I have heard many people use this passage to indicate the requirement of the tithe (giving a tenth of our income). While that came to be the practice of the Israelites in their worship, we must not be caught up in merely “obeying the law.”

 

The meaning of this name helps us to understand our position in relation to God. He is THE Most High. Giving to God is a means of honoring who He is in our lives. After all, hasn’t He already given us the greatest of all gifts? Our deliverance from death through Jesus is far greater than anything we could give. When you give, do so as a result of your understanding of who God is… El Elyon!