The Lord has many names in the Bible, and one of them is "El Elyon," which means Most High (Deuteronomy 26:19).

El Elyon, God Most High, or sometimes LORD Most High, is used throughout Scripture to refer to the LORD, the Creator of heaven and earth. Psalm 57:2 states, “I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.” The Hebrew words translated as "God Most High" are Elohim or (El) Elyown, which mean Most High God (Genesis 14:22; Psalm 78:35). In the title LORD Most High, the Hebrew words are Elohim Yahweh. God Most High or LORD Most High signifies that there is no idol, god, or created being that should be worshiped or exalted above the Lord, as He is superior in every way.

When God summoned Abram to depart from Ur of the Chaldeans, Abram abandoned his pagan ways to worship the living God, who had revealed Himself to him. He brought along his wife, Sarai, and his nephew, Lot (Genesis 12:1–5ff).

Later on, after Yahweh had greatly blessed both Abram and Lot, they had to part ways (Genesis 13). The first use of the name El Elyon for God is found in Genesis 14. This occurs when Abram rescued his nephew Lot and recovered goods stolen by an alliance of kings who had attacked Sodom and Gomorrah. Upon Abram's return from defeating these kings, he was met by the king of Sodom and Melchizedek, the king of Salem. Melchizedek came to meet and thank Abram for his actions. (Genesis 12:17–24).

When Melchizedek, the king of Salem, brought out bread and wine, he acted as a priest of God Most High. He blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand” (Genesis 14:18-20).

The Bible explicitly states that before Yahweh called Abram to leave Ur, Abram and his family "served other gods" (Joshua 24:2). When Yahweh made Himself known to Abram, it became clear to him that this God was different from the others he had worshipped. Unlike the silent gods who accepted offerings without interaction, Yahweh actively communicated with Abram and made significant promises.

Considering his background in idolatry, it would be understandable if Abram thought he was the only one serving the true God. Similarly, a casual reader of Genesis might hold the same belief if it weren't for the account of Melchizedek.

Moses introduces Melchizedek as the "priest of God Most High" (v. 18). The Hebrew term translated as "God Most High" is El Elyon, which signifies the supreme God. Although other gods were recognized in the culture where Abram and Melchizedek lived, El Elyon was considered above all.

While every culture claimed their god as the supreme deity, something in this text distinguishes El Elyon. Melchizedek blesses Abram in the name of El Elyon, describing Him as the "possessor of heaven and earth" (v. 19, ESV) or the "creator of heaven and earth". In ancient thought, spirit and matter were interconnected, with no clear distinction between them. The gods were seen as more powerful than humans but merely on a higher level of existence. The idea of a God who was both the "creator" and "possessor" of heaven and earth was unique to Yahweh.

When Abram heard Melchizedek refer to El Elyon, it might have seemed typical, as many pagans claimed a supreme god. However, when Melchizedek identified El Elyon as the "creator" or "possessor of heaven and earth," Abram realized he had met a spiritual brother. This encounter confirmed that he was not alone in worshipping the true God; both he and Melchizedek honored the same deity.

The name El Elyon underscores the truth that Yahweh, the God of the Bible, is the one and only supreme God, regardless of human recognition. Shortly after parting ways with Melchizedek, Abram spoke to the king of Sodom about "Yahweh, El Elyon, possessor of heaven and earth" (v. 22). Although the king of Sodom did not acknowledge Yahweh as the supreme God, it did not change the fact that Yahweh reigned supreme, even over those who did not recognize Him.

El Elyon also plays a significant role in the book of Daniel. Daniel and his three friends were captured by Nebuchadnezzar during his initial siege of Jerusalem. They were forcibly relocated to Babylon to serve Nebuchadnezzar and underwent a process of assimilation. Their names were changed (Daniel 1:7), and they were expected to abandon their allegiance to their God and pledge loyalty to the gods of Babylon. As part of this process, they were required to consume food and drink offered to Babylonian gods, which Daniel and his friends refused (Daniel 1:8ff). These devoted servants of Yahweh remained loyal to El Elyon and would not serve lesser gods.

Yahweh showed favor to His faithful servants, making them stand out among Nebuchadnezzar's attendants. They proved to be wiser than Babylon’s renowned wise men (Daniel 1:20). Daniel alone could reveal and interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (chapter 2), and his three friends remained faithful to Yahweh despite facing certain death, experiencing a miraculous deliverance from the fiery furnace (chapter 3).

Through these events, God was actively working in Nebuchadnezzar’s life. Initially, Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged the power of Daniel’s God when He revealed and interpreted his dream (Daniel 2:46–49). However, the miraculous deliverance from the fiery furnace made an even greater impact on him. When Nebuchadnezzar saw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego unharmed and walking in the fire, he called out, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of El Elyon, come out, and come here!” (Daniel 3:26). This marked the first instance of the name El Elyon being spoken by a pagan king.

Nebuchadnezzar’s journey did not stop there; he would not remain a pagan king forever. Daniel 4 recounts the events that led Nebuchadnezzar to personally bow to Yahweh. While earlier he had rewarded Yahweh’s servants and commanded his subjects to honor Yahweh, chapter 4 describes his personal submission to Yahweh (Daniel 4:34–37). In this chapter, Nebuchadnezzar again refers to El Elyon (Daniel 4:2). Later, Daniel reminded King Belshazzar of Nebuchadnezzar’s devotion to El Elyon (Daniel 5:18, 21).

Like Abram before him, Nebuchadnezzar transitioned from pagan idolatry to recognizing and serving Yahweh as the supreme God. These men did not elevate Yahweh to supremacy; rather, by God’s grace, they were led to recognize Him as the supreme God.

As we pray this week, we should recognize that the God of the Bible, to whom we pray, is the absolute supreme and sovereign God. People around us—and sometimes we ourselves—acknowledge and bow to other gods. Everyone has something of supreme importance in their lives. Yet, these lesser “supreme” gods pale in comparison to El Elyon, the supreme God who is the creator of heaven and earth. By the grace of Jesus Christ, we have the tremendous privilege to worship and serve the living and true God, sovereign over all things. As Nebuchadnezzar declared, “his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done?’” (Daniel 4:34–35).

It is an incredible privilege to serve and pray to El Elyon, but it also carries an awesome responsibility. Outside of Genesis 14 and Daniel, the term El Elyon appears only once in the Old Testament, though Elyon alone is used elsewhere. Psalm 78, a lengthy psalm by Asaph, recounts Yahweh’s mighty, saving acts for Israel. Twice (vv. 36, 56), Asaph refers to Yahweh as El Elyon. He challenges his readers to “tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of Yahweh, and his might, and the wonders he has done” (v. 4).

As we pray this week, worshipping God as El Elyon, let us remember our solemn responsibility. We must pass on the wonderful knowledge of El Elyon and His mighty, saving deeds to the next generation.