Attributes of God - The Most High God - Genesis 14 (Sermon 8)

In our 2^nd Study in this series on the Attributes of God, we saw how the Lord God, established an Everlasting Covenant with Abraham.

• After the birth of Isaac, Abraham was in need of a Permanent Dwelling Place.
• Abimelech, the King of the Philistines, provided a plot of land at Beersheba:

"Abraham Dug a Well" - a sure sign that he intended to dwell in that place.

• Then "Abraham planted a Tamarisk Tree" - a symbol of permanence & durability.

• "There he called upon the name of the Lord, the Eternal God (El Olam)."
• Abraham then stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long time" (Genesis 21:32-34).

In our 4^th Study we saw how God promised Abraham & Sarah a son in their old age.

"When Abraham was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, 'I am God

Almighty - El-Shaddai'; walk before me and be blameless. I will confirm my

covenant between me & you and will greatly increase your numbers" (Gen 17:1-2).

• When Sarah laughed at the possibility of an old & barren woman bearing a child,

the Lord God asked Abraham a Fundamental Question:

We come now to another Name of God, which was first revealed to Abraham.

1. God revealed his Name The Most High God at the time when

Abraham rescued his nephew Lot after he was captured in battle:

• Always remember that God does not reveal his Attributes in a Theological Vacuum.
• God doesn't speak to his people primarily through a Book of Systematic Theology.
• Invariably, God reveals himself through the Circumstances of Everyday Life.

Let's picture the scene in our mind's eye:

• Abraham & Lot had come out of Egypt and had eventually reached Bethel.
• A problem arose among the herdsmen of these two men:

"The land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions

were so great that they were not able to stay together. And quarrelling arose between

Abram's herdsmen and the herdsmen of Lot" (Genesis 13:6-7).

• Abraham allowed Lot to choose the land he wanted for his people.
• Lot chose the fertile & well-watered plain of Jordan, whilst Abraham lived in Canaan.
• Lot pitched his tents near Sodom, whilst Abraham pitched his tents at Hebron (13:8-18).

After Lot had gone to live in Sodom, a Great Battle took place when

Four Kings Went to War against Five Kings (Genesis ch 14).

• Among the Group of Five Kings were the Kings of Sodom & Gomorrah.
• For 12 years the Group of Five Kings had been subject to Kedorlaomer, King of Elam.
• Then they rebelled in order to free their people from the power of the King of Elam.
• The Army which was under the Group of Five Kings, including Sodom & Gomorrah, were defeated by the Alliance of Four Kings, under the leadership of Kedorlaomer.

In the account of this battle, we read this:

"The four kings seized the goods of Sodom & Gomorrah and all their food;

then they went away. They also carried off Abram's nephew Lot and all his

possessions, since he was living in Sodom" (Genesis 14:11-12).

When Abraham heard about the capture of his nephew Lot,

he took 318 trained men on a rescue mission to save him:

"He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions,

together with the women and the other people" (Gen 14:16).

It is the Context of Nations going to war, that God chooses to reveal his Name

The Most High God - El-Elyon to the Patriarch Abraham:

"After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him the

king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's

Valley). The Melchizedek king of Salem brought out dread & wine. He was priest of

God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, 'Blessed be Abram by God Most

High (El-Elyon), Creator of Heaven & Earth. And blessed be God Most High, who

delivered your enemies into your hand" (Genesis 14:17-20).

Kings & Nations went out to war.

• When Abram returned from battle, the King of Sodom met with him in the King's Valley
• Sodom, of course, represented everything that is Evil & Wicked in the hearts of men.
• Then Melchizadek King of Salem came out to the King's Valley to Bless Abraham.
• Salem means Peace - Melchizadek, King of Peace, Blessed Abraham.

It is in these circumstances that God reveals himself as God Most High.

• It is in these circumstances that God reveals himself as the Creator of Heaven & Earth.

• It is in these circumstances that God declares his Power to Reign

over Everything & Everyone in All Creation.

Andrew Jukes, in his book on The Names of God, gives the meaning of this Name:

"The Name Most High God, in the Hebrew, El Elyon: the word El expresses the idea

of God as Might or Power. What is further revealed here is that this 'God, El',

is the Most High, and as such 'Possessor or Maker of Heaven & Earth.' "

• The Hebrew word Elyon means that God is The Highest One.
• It clearly implies that all others are below Him;
• It implies that Man has been Made after the Image of the Most High God.
• It implies, therefore, that All People are in some way related to the Most High God.

• The word Elyon also implies that, because God is the Highest One,

he has Power to Rule All of his Creatures, according to his will.

Remember how the Psalmist asks the Question:

"For who in the skies above can compare to the Lord?

Who is like the Lord among the Heavenly Beings?" (Psalm 89:5-6).

• The answer is clear: Not one of the angels may be compared to the Most High God.
• All the Heavenly Host is subservient to the One who is called the Highest One.

The Lord God speaks about the Whole of Mankind, saying:

"I said, 'You are gods'; you are all sons of the Most High'" (Psalm 82:6).

• We are called 'sons of God' because "God Created Man in his own image" (Gen 1:27).

Even when speaking to the Greek pagan people in Athens, Paul could say:

• This is another way of saying that the Whole of Mankind, people from Every Nation & Every Generation are under the Power & Control of the Most High God!

This is why the Lord God is described as (Rom 9:5; Ps 136:2; Rev 19:16):

"God over all; God of gods; King of kings & Lord of lords."

This is why the Palmist extols the Name of God, saying:

"For you, O Lord, are the Most High over all the earth;

you are exalted above all gods" (Psalm 92:9)

This is the Truth revealed in Scripture through Melchisedek, who is described as:

"King of Salaam, and priest of the Most High" (Gen 14:18).

• As King & Priest, he was under the Power & Authority of the Most High God.
• His Role in Life was to Bless the Most High God and to Bless his Servant Abraham.

Some writers point out that, every passage where the Name El Elyon occurs, the meaning is the same. They refer to the Relationship of God to All Men & All Nations:

• Remember Balaam, who came from Aram, out of the mountains of the east (Num 23:7).
• Balaam had heard the Word of God, & had a knowledge of the Most High (24:16).

He saw a Vision from the Almighty about the Judgement of Pagan Nations (24:13-19).

Moses tells us about the All the Nations of the Earth, saying (Deut 32:8-9):

Israel, For the Lord's portion is his people, Jacob his allotted inheritance."

• Moses is expressing the Sovereignty of God over All Men & All Nations.
• All Nations received their inheritance and had their boundaries fixed

by the Most High God, who possesses the Sovereign Power to Rule All Nations.

Notice the use of two different Names of God here:

• When referring to All the Nations, Moses uses the Name El Elyon, the Most High God.
• However, in relation to his Chosen People God is called Yahweh, the Lord God of Israel

This Name, the Most High God, is Not Mentioned in the Historic Books

from Joshua to Esther, except in David's Song in 2 Samuel 22:14:

• Even then, reference is made to the Lord's voice resounding through the Whole Earth.
• David says that he will praise the Lord God Among the Nations (2 Sam 22:50).

This omission of the Name El Elyon is no accident:

• These books deal with the History of God's Chosen People, Israel.

• Therefore, God is called Yahweh, the Name revealed to his Covenant People.

• The Name the Most High God is used especially in connection with the Gentile Nations.

• It reveals to us that God has Sovereign Power over All Nations, not just Israel.

Although the Name, the Most High God, is mentioned in the Psalms it is used either in a direct reference to the Gentile World, OR in connection with God's Universal Providence

• For example: Asaph refers to the Nations who are 'Enemies of God', saying:

• David speaks of God's providential care when he fled from King Saul, saying:

The Name El-Elyon, the Most High God, declares the fact that All Nations, even the worst Pagan People on earth, lie under the Power & Dominion of the Almighty God.

• This is why the Gentile Priest, Melchisedek, said:

• Melchisedek says that All Creation is under the Dominion of the Most High God.

• The Most High God had the Power to deliver Pagan Kings into the hand of Abraham!
• Remember, that two of these kings were rulers of wicked cities of Sodom & Gomorrah.

There is no doubt that the Name the Most High God has

a particular significance for the Gentile Nations:

• Indeed, it is a Truth that has been implanted in the minds of the Gentile People:

• The Old Mythologies are full of stories about men who were sons of gods;
• These gods were declared to be sons of a Higher God, called the Most High God.
• Melchisedek, a Gentile King & Priest, preserved this teaching about the Most High God
• The Name El Elyon speaks about God's relation to 'Thrones & Dominions'

who are far below him & subservient to him.

We are considering the Divine Name of The Most High God:

1. God first revealed his Name The Most High God at the time when Abraham rescued his nephew Lot after he was captured in a battle between Nine Pagan Kings.

- This Name Speaks to us about the Sovereign Power of God.

- It teaches us that All Creation is under the Dominion of the Most High God.

2. God revealed through Nebuchadnezzar, the Mighty King of Babylon, that he is the Most High God who possesses Sovereign Power over All Nations

• If you search the Scriptures for a Concise Definition of God's Sovereignty

you may well be surprised to learn where it is to be found.

• It is not to be found from the pen of Paul, who spoke of God's Sovereignty in Salvation.
• Neither will you find it in the Writings of the Great Prophets, like Isaiah & Jeremiah.

Arguably the Greatest & Clearest Statement concerning the Sovereign Power of the

Most High God, comes from the lips of a Pagan King called Nebuchadnezzar.

• It is does not come as a begrudging acknowledgement of God's Sovereign Power.
• Rather, it comes as an expression of Worship & Praise.

• It comes after Nebuchadnezzar had reasoned with himself about Recent Events in his life.

Think of the Events that led up to this Declaration about Divine Sovereignty:

• The Babylonian Empire was the Greatest Power in the world of its day.
• Its king, Nebuchadnezzar, had no equal among all the kings of the nations.
• The Prophet Daniel describes him as "The king of kings" (Daniel 2:37).
• He was a man of great military & political power.
• He built the beautiful City of Babylon, a city of splendid palaces & gardens.
• There had never been such a wonderful city before in the Gentile World.
• He was the commander who had defeated & destroyed Jerusalem .
• He was the King who led the Jewish People into Babylonian Captivity.

The problem was that this Great King was having many sleepless nights (Daniel 4:5):

• He had a dramatic dream that had troubled his soul night after night.
• The dream flooded his mind and he became absolutely terrified.
• The king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers & astrologers in the hope that they would tell him the meaning of this terrifying dream, but to no avail.
• Then he remembered how Daniel had interpreted a previous dream, and

was even able to tell him the content of the dream without being told about it (Dan ch 2).

The previous dream was a vision of a Large Statue, with its head made of gold,

its chest & arms of silver, its thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, and its feet of iron & clay.

• Daniel explained that the 1^st Dream was about the Rise & Fall of Great Empires (2:36-49)
• Nebuchadnezzar saw a vision about God's Sovereign Power over Future World History.

This Second Dream was about a Huge Tree:

"Its height was enormous. The tree grew large & strong and its top touched the sky;

it was visible to the ends of the earth" (Daniel 4:10-11).

• The Huge Tree provided sufficient Food & Shelter for all.
• But, then, a Messenger from Heaven declared that the tree would be cut down (4:13-15).

Daniel explained the Interpretation of this 2^nd Dream to King Nebuchadnezzar:

• The dream was about the king himself.
• The Huge Tree represented this Great King of the Babylonians.
• Its size & strength & the creatures it sustained all symbolised the

Power & Majesty of Nebuchadnezzar's Mighty Kingdom.

This Great King had become Sovereign over a Mighty Empire:

In an instant of time, the Throne & Empire of this Great King was taken from him:

• Daniel pleaded with Nebuchadnezzar to repent of his sin of oppressing the needy.
• Nebuchadnezzar refused to repent & refused to bow the knee to the Sovereign Lord.
• Therefore, he was humbled for a period of Seven Years (4:27-32).
• This Great King became a mad man.
• He was driven away from his people and lived in the fields like an animal & ate grass.
• The Majesty & Splendour the King once enjoyed was exchanged for a life of humiliation.

Finally, after Seven Years of Depression & Humiliation, the King Learned his Lesson:

"At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my

sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I Honoured & Glorified him

who Lives Forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from

generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does

as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can

hold back his hand or say to him: 'What have you done?'" (Daniel 4:34-35).

This acknowledgement of the Sovereignty of God was spoken by a man

who knew all about Human Sovereignty:

• He knew more about Power over Nations than any Modern Leader could ever dream of.
• Such was the extent of his power in the world that Daniel called him "the king of kings".
• He & his Empire are described as the "Head of Gold" (Daniel 2:37-38).

Daniel told Belshazzar about the dominion of his father Nebuchadnezzar (5:18-19):

• The Most High God gave him sovereignty & greatness & glory & splendour;
• All the peoples & nations & men of every language dreaded & feared him.
• Those he wanted to put to death, he put to death; those he wanted to spear, he speared.
• He promoted or humbled men & women, according to his own fancy.

Nebuchadnezzar needed to learn that Human Sovereignty is bestowed upon men through the Divine Sovereignty of the Most High God (4:32):

God said to him: You will be humiliated "until you acknowledge that the Most High

is Sovereign over the Kingdoms of Men and gives them to anyone he wishes" Whatever sovereignty men may possess over the nations, it is a Limited Sovereignty which is a Delegated Power from the Living God, who Rules over Heaven & Earth.

• The kings position & power are not because of his own inherent greatness, but rather, it is due to the Greatness of the Most High God - who bestows on men a position of power.

Throughout the world today, there is No Political Leader who has anywhere near

the Same Level Power that Nebuchadnezzar possessed.

• How many leaders today can pass every piece of legislation they choose without fear of any opposition; create every national welfare or political programme they desire;

or appoint every official they may please to choose.

Nebuchadnezzar had to learn an extremely important lesson:

• No matter how Great a Human King may be, the Most High God is Infinitely Greater.
• The Sovereign Lord of Heaven & Earth is in Sovereign Control of the Whole of History.
• He has Power over All Nations and All Kings in Every Nation & Every Generation.

A godly king called Jehoshaphat found Great Encouragement in this Same Lesson:

When the Lord God helped him to defeat the Moabites & Ammonites, he said:

"O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in Heaven?

You Rule over All the Kingdoms of the Nations. Power & Might are in your hand,

and no one can withstand you" (2 Chronicles 20:5-6).

When God revealed Nebuchadnezzar's First Dream to Daniel, he said:

"Praise be to the name of God for ever & ever, wisdom & power are his.

He changes times & seasons; he sets up kings & deposes them" (Daniel 2:20-21).

Since God is Infinite, His Sovereignty must be Absolute.

• His Rule & Dominion must involve Total Control over Everything in his domain.
• His Sovereign Power enables him to Control Every Situation & Every Event.
• The Sovereign Lord of Heaven & Earth 'sets up kings & deposes them overnight'.

The Psalmist asks the question:

Our God is in Heaven, he does whatever pleases him" (Ps 115:2-3).

This is a Lesson we need to be Constantly Reminded of as we come to the 21^st Century!

• We live in a world of chaos & change.
• We live in a world that says 'There is no God'.
• We live in a world that refuses to accept that God is Sovereign over All Nations.
• We live in a world where Nations are in Civil War, and thousands of innocent people are losing their lives, and we just seem to look on helplessly.
• We live in a Nation where many Believers no longer accept that God is Sovereign.
• We live in a time when many Christians either doubt or water down the Power of God.

The life & times of Nebuchadnezzar teach us that our problem is not a new one:

• People say that God is Powerless to work out his Plan & Purpose among Pagan Leaders.

• God had the Power to bring this Mighty Pagan King under subjection.
• He had the Power to Raise up Babylon and the Power to Dissipate its Vast Empire.
• God subjected this Human Sovereign Ruler to his own Divine Sovereignty.
• God caused this Pagan King to make a bold statement concerning God's Sovereign Power

There is no doubt that the Most High God has Power to Change the Course of History:

• It means that God has the Power to bring about a solution in Northern Ireland.
• It means that God has the Power to topple Leaders of Nations who usurp their

God-given Authority to Govern their people in accordance with his Divine Will.

• It means that the God who changed the Political Situation in Eastern Europe,

also has the Power to raise up a Church in those Nations.

• It means that God has the Power to thwart the plans of the Gay Rights Movement; and to thwart the evil scheming of any other group which seeks to bring in Unbiblical Laws.

We are considering the Divine Name of The Most High God:

1. God first revealed his Name The Most High God at the time when Abraham rescued his nephew Lot after he was captured in a battle between Nine Pagan Kings.
2. God revealed through Nebuchadnezzar, the Mighty King of Babylon, that he is the Most High God who possesses Sovereign Power over All Nations
3. God revealed through Joseph that he is the Most High God

who possesses Sovereign Power over the Lives of Individuals

• Think of the circumstances in which Joseph learned about the Sovereign Power of the Most High God to Control the Lives of Individuals.

• The life of Joseph teaches us that God's Sovereignty over his people does not mean that their decisions or actions always work out the way we want them to.
• Joseph's brothers ridiculed him as "The Dreamer".
• They acted spitefully & maliciously by selling him into slavery.
• Joseph left his brothers in no doubt that he realised what their intentions were:

"You intended to harm me" (Genesis 50:20).

• Potiphar's wife acted in a vicious manner by falsely accusing Joseph of

sexual harassment, so that he was thrown into prison, and almost left to rot.

Despite the evil intentions of his Brothers & Potiphar's wife, Joseph knew that the

Most High God was in Sovereign Control of his circumstances:

• When Joseph made himself known to his brothers, they were greatly afraid because of his powerful position in Egypt. But Joseph alleviated their fears, saying:

Joseph had no doubt that God was Sovereignly Controlling all the actions of his brothers

so as to accomplish his Divine Purpose for the life of his servant.

• Joseph could say to his brothers: "It was not you who sent me here, but God"
• God used their evil actions to accomplish his Good Purpose.

Later, after the death of his father, Jacob, Joseph said to his brothers:

"Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me,

but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done,

the saving of many lives" (Genesis 50:19-20)

Paul taught the Ephesians that:

Isaiah tells us that God causes Adversity & Calamity in order to Accomplish his Will:

God's Sovereignty over his people doesn't mean that we don't experience problems:

• It does not mean that we will never go through times of trouble & testing.
• It means that God is in Sovereign Control of all the circumstances of life,

whether they be good circumstances or bad circumstances.

• It means that when we go through times of affliction & suffering that God has a beneficial purpose for it. Others may mean to harm us, but God means it for good.
• No matter how irrational or how inexplicable a particular set of trials may be to us,

it is all part of God's Ultimate Purpose for our lives.

C H Spurgeon said in a sermon on the Sovereignty of God:

"There is no attribute more comforting to his children that that of God's Sovereignty.

Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe trials, they believe that

Sovereignty has ordained their afflictions, that Sovereignty overrules them, and that

Sovereignty will sanctify them all."

Make no mistake, Divine Sovereignty does make a difference to our Everyday Lives:

• At times we may think that we are at the mercy of people who intend to do us harm.
• But our faith in the Sovereign Power of God tells us that this is not the case.
• God has Sovereign Control over the actions of the most wicked people on earth.
• This Doctrine brings us great comfort in times of affliction & suffering.
• We can take great courage from the fact that God is working out his Purposes.
• No matter how bad our circumstances may be,

our Sovereign Lord means it for our ultimate good.

"We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,

who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).

Believer: Do you really believe in the Sovereign Power of the Most High God today?

• Do you believe in God's Sovereignty over the Rulers of Nations?
• Do you believe in God's Sovereignty over the Lives of Individuals?

• Do you believe that God has Complete Control over your own life & circumstances?