El Elyon is possessor of heaven and earth, who has delivered our enemies into our hand
El Elyon appears (as God Most High) in compound form three times in Scripture:
- 1. in Genesis 14:19-20
- 2. as “Jehovah Elyon,” meaning the One who is The Self-Existent Most High One. David, as a shepherd boy on the hills of Judea, knew God Most High and gave praise to Jehovah (Lord) Elyon:
- “I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High” (Ps. 7:17).
- “How awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the earth!” (Ps. 47:2).
- “For you, O Lord, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods” (Ps. 97:9).
- 3. as Ĕlôhîym, the Creator and Triune God, and Elyôwn appearing together twice.
- “I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me” (Ps. 57:2).
- “But they put God to the test and rebelled against the Most High; they did not keep his statutes” (Ps. 78:56).
Some translations of Genesis 14:19-20 refer to El Elyon, the Most High, as “creator” of heaven and earth rather than possessor. If God Most High created it, does it not stand to reason that He possesses it, including you and me? A young lady named Rosie, a young Christian, found out how true this was when she chose to turn from her lifestyle of prostitution. A former customer showed up at her doorstep, forced his way in, and was not happy when she said, “I’m God’s property now.”
As he raised his hand to strike her, it was immobilized in mid-air. He could not move it and walked out the door. God Most High living in her heart showed her He was above all and demonstrated that to her. She discovered more of who she was, as her enemies were delivered into her hand.
Everything El Elyon does is right and all His ways are just
This is what Nebuchadnezzar learned about El Elyon after a long life of rebelling against God. This king of Babylon learned of the One and Only God Most High from Daniel, one of the first citizens of Jerusalem who was taken captive when Judah fell in 605 BC, as foretold by the prophet Jeremiah. [Refer to Module 3.]
Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that only Daniel could interpret. Daniel and his three friends, as Jewish exiles and because of God’s blessing, were chosen to be trained and to serve in the king’s palace. Daniel told the king:
This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes . . . Your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules . . . Renounce your sins by doing what is right and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue. —Daniel 4:24-27
“Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, ‘is not this the great Babylon, I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?’” (Dan. 4:29-30 emphasis mine).
These words were still on the king’s lips when the exact words Daniel told him were repeated in his ear by the Most High. All the words came true. At the end of that time Nebuchadnezzar raised his eyes toward heaven and praised the Most High, honoring and glorifying him who lives forever and saying, “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?’” (Dan. 4:35).
Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity was restored, with his honor and splendor even greater than before. Afterwards, he said, “Now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble” (Dan. 4:37).
El Elyon is in total control
King Nebuchadnezzar had to learn that sometimes things have to happen to us beyond our control before we comprehend God is for us—that we are not the one in control. The king learned that everything El Elyon allowed to happen was for his own good. Until we have also gone through difficulties and have seen the hand of God Most High work on our behalf, we cannot fully believe or comprehend that “all things work together for good to those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose . . . . What shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:28, 31).
“Yes, from the time of the first existence of day and from this day forth I am He, and there is no one who can deliver out of My hand. I will work and who can hinder or reverse it?” (Isa. 43:13). Is there any way we can comprehend the vastness of how totally “in control” our God El Elyon is? Absolutely nothing can happen to us that is not filtered through His great big, ever-loving fingers.
Kay Arthur says it best, “If God is not sovereign, if He is not in control, if all things are not under His dominion, then He is not the Most High, and you and I are either in the hands of blind fate, in the hands of man, or in the hands of the devil.”[1]
El Elyon is trustworthy and faithful to His promises
Abram trusted God explicitly, and placed his life and that of his men in jeopardy to rescue Lot and his family, knowing El Elyon would give him the victory. He seemed not to think about it twice. He knew he was in God’s protective hands. This faithfulness and perseverance brought even greater blessings, as the Word of the Lord came to him in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward” (Gen. 15:1).
Jesus tells us the same thing, “Well done, good and faithful servant! I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matt. 25:21). This is what Melchizedek was saying to Abram by bringing out the bread and wine to bless God Most High, “Come and share your master’s happiness!” This is what communion should be about— rejoicing in the deliverance Jesus’ blood brought.
These rewards are only for the faithful. The children of Israel found that what God said He would do, He did. When they reached the plains of the Jordan River opposite Jericho, Moses ordered a census be taken. Of all those twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army of Israel (see Num. 26), the total number of men was 601,730; not one was counted in the census forty years earlier—except Joshua and Caleb—who trusted God unwaveringly, 100 percent. Two men were the only ones remaining of the older, rebellious generation except for Moses.
Whereas God had not allowed the shortcut to the land on the eleven-day journey from Egypt to Canaan, He did bring them through the Red Sea and the refining heat of the desert, and now, the swelling Jordan River at springtime harvest. He had shaken them until only the faithful remained; and with them, he would drive out the wickedness that was now at it’s zenith in the land. Only those armed for war would now cross over the Jordan to take their position in the land (see Num. 32:27).
Israel’s conquest of Canaan was a physical possession of the land given them as an inheritance, an example to us as Christians to believe El Elyon, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, for all our enemies, not of flesh and blood, to be given into our hands. This is our inheritance. And He tells us, “If you trust me to do this, I will trust you with more.” When He does that, He will show up suddenly, taking us by surprise.
The following attachment is of the arrows, sword and shield weapons we must arm ourselves with. Referring back to Module 4, when we align our words with God’s word we allow El Elyon [God Most High] to deliver our enemies into our hand. Remember, we will be judged for every idle word we speak; therefore, these are designed to be laminated and placed by the television for daily use or when hearing bad news.
These arrows and sword weapons were inspired by young Colton Burpo’s words to his daddy in the book, Heaven is For Real. During an operation for a ruptured appendix, Colton visited heaven. Jesus showed him that Todd, his daddy, would fight in the coming battle with Jesus as He cast satan into the bottomless pit. Todd asked his son what weapon he would be using to fight satan and his monsters. Colton said, “You either get a sword or a bow and arrow, but I don’t remember which” (pg. 138, Thomas Nelson, 2010).
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The following Arrows and Sword & Shield document can be laminated into a 5″ x 7″ card. Put on your armor shield every day with the Word of God as your sword and arrows.
[1] Kay Arthur, The Peace & Power of Knowing God’s Name, (Waterbrook Press, Colorado Springs, 2002) p. 21.