What does it mean that God is El Elyon?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

When God spoke to Moses through the burning bush, He told Moses the name by which He would be called: "I AM that I AM" (Exodus 3:14).  God’s self-description means He is incomparable and completely self-sufficient. He simply IS. No other thing or person can compare with Him (Psalm 97:9). He is also the only one deserving of our worship; He commands that we worship no others but Him (Exodus 20:1-6). Jesus also declares that He is only, exclusive way to gain reconciliation with God (John 14:6). Even evil spirits, the enemies of God, cannot deny that He is above all (Luke 8:28). Acknowledging that God is higher than all others leads to response of worship and adoration (Psalm 7:17, 57:2, 97:9), in some scenarios, even by inanimate, earthly idols (1 Samuel 5:1-8).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• After the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt, God gave His ten commandments to Moses. His first two commands are to have no other gods before Him nor to create any idols to be worshipped. God, the Most High, is the only object of worship and should not be replaced by anything else (Exodus 20:1-6).
• Near the end of his life, Moses speaks to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. He praises "The Most High" for ordering the world and giving nations their inheritance (Deuteronomy 32:8).
• During the time of the prophet Samuel, the nation of Israel's enemy, the Philistines, captured the Ark of God, a sacred part of the temple, and took it to a temple of one of their gods. They placed the ark next to the statue of their god and, over a period of several days, witnessed their statue fall on its face before the ark of the Lord, demonstrating God's place as the only being to be worshipped (1 Samuel 5:1-8).
• The righteousness of the Most High is a reason for us to praise His name and give our worship to Him alone (Psalm 7:17).
• The psalmist refers to God as "The Most High", giving thanks and praise for God's purposes for life and declaring God's faithfulness in fulfilling them (Psalm 57:2).
• There is no one nor thing that is higher than God in all the earth. He alone is to be exalted far above any other worldly object of worship (Psalm 97:9).
• God declares of Himself that He alone is God and there are no others beside Him nor anyone like Him. He determines the beginning from the end and was present in ancient times as well as in times to come, being above all space and time (Isaiah 46:9-11).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• During an instance in which Jesus was casting an evil spirit from a man, the demon speaks to Jesus, calling Him "Son of the Most High." Even evil spirits acknowledge God's place as higher than any other being in creation (Luke 8:28).
• Jesus says of Himself that He is the only way to reconciliation with God. No one comes to God except through faith in Jesus, thereby positioning Him as higher than all others (John 14:6).
• After Jesus' resurrection, He appeared to hundreds of people over a period of forty days. He also appeared to his disciples, some of whom doubted that He was truly alive. In an appearance to Thomas, who had doubted, Jesus showed Thomas the physical proof of His resurrection. Thomas' response was to declare that Jesus, alone, was his Lord and God (John 20:28).
• We are able to know the Most High when we truly believe in His existence and earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

We describe objects of exaltation as being "higher" than we are, in things such as rank, title, beauty, or intelligence. Height denotes the idea of something being superior in power, authority, and strength. Incredibly, God Most High desires most to know and be known by us. He invites us into this relationship through Christ's sacrificial death on the cross.

To begin knowing The Most High, we must recognize His existence (Hebrews 11:6) and then acknowledge who He is in relation to everything else (Isaiah 9:6, Exodus 20:3). We must rid our lives of things that would compete for the worship and attention that only God deserves. We must decide to obey God and serve Him as the Lord of our lives by accepting the gift of salvation through Christ. God exists as Most High, whether or not we choose to recognize Him as such, but when we willingly live our lives seeking Him, we will find enjoyment and fulfillment in knowing Him as Lord above all.

UNDERSTAND

• The name of God, El Elyon, means "The Most High."
• Acknowledging God as higher than any other should cause us to worship Him only.
• We can know The Most High by acceptance of His gift of salvation through Christ.

REFLECT

• How does knowledge that God is "The Most High" affect the position He holds in your life and attention?
• How does knowledge that God is "The Most High" affect your trust in Him?
• How does God's declaration that He, alone, is worthy of your worship affect how you praise Him?

ENGAGE

• What can Christians do to encourage other believers to worship God alone and not place anything higher than Him?
• How does our acknowledgement of God as the highest over all creation affect the way the world sees Him?
• How does knowledge of God as "The Most High" shape the way we share our faith with others who do not yet know Christ?