Join us as we explore the concept of divine sovereignty, encapsulated in the ancient Hebrew title El Elyon. Through scriptural references and historical anecdotes, this episode unveils the profound impact of recognizing God’s supreme authority in every facet of life. From the triumph of Abram against overwhelming odds to the transformative journey of King Nebuchadnezzar, learn how the acknowledgment of God Most High can lead to a life infused with confidence, trust, and spiritual resilience.
00:00:01 Understanding the Song of Moses and the Lamb
We believe that God’s in heaven, he’s reigning in heaven, but somehow we think because we see so much tragedy around us, violence and sickness and death and starvation, we question whether God is really reigning on earth. As we look at what’s going on in the world around us and see so many things happening, we’re trying to understand what’s going on through the prophetic lens of the scriptures. The Hebrew prophet Daniel talked a lot about the end times, but the book of Revelation, the last book in the New Testament, gives us more information about the end of the age than any other book in the Bible. One of the things described in the book of Revelation is a song that God’s people will be singing to him at the end of the age. And they said the song that God’s people will be singing in the book of Revelation is both the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. Both the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb are the songs that God’s saints will be singing. Now, some of you may not know that in the pages of the scripture, specifically I’m speaking of in the Torah, Exodus chapter number 15, after the children of Israel had crossed the Red Sea and God had drowned their enemies, the Egyptians, in the sea, When Israel got to the other side, looking back at how God had drowned their enemies, they sang a song. And this is a song of Moses. So I’m going to sing it for you now, a popular kind of a melody to it. It’s not word for word, but it is the essence of it. It goes like this. I will sing unto the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously, the horse and rider thrown into the sea.
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I will sing unto the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously, the horse and rider thrown into the sea.
SPEAKER 03 :
The Lord, my God, my strength, my song has now become my victory. The Lord, my God, my strength, my song has now become my victory. God made me a preacher, not a singer, but I still love singing the song, and I hope that you enjoyed it a little bit. God is our victory, and this connects us directly to the Hebrew title of God that we’re going to be looking at today. The name I’m referring to is the title El Elyon. On the previous broadcast, we focused on the Creator’s title, Elohim. In the beginning, Elohim created the heavens and the earth. And I mentioned during the previous two broadcasts that Elohim is the plural of the Hebrew word El. El just means God. Elohim means God plural. Emphasis is added or plurality is added to make the point that God is not just a God, he’s the one true God. Because when you add im onto the end of a Hebrew word, it gives that singular word emphasis. Another way that emphasis is added to the Hebrew term El, meaning God, in addition to Elohim, is sometimes the word El, God, is used with a further detailed description of which El they’re praying to. Because remember, the pagan nations also refer to their God as El. So the Hebrews called their God, not just El, but Elohim for emphasis. And then also they described him further by saying he’s El Elyon, which we’re going to look at today. And further down the pike, we’ll look at the term El Shaddai. So one of the titles of the Lord in the Tanakh, in the Hebrew Bible, is the title for the creator, El Elyon. El Elyon means God, El, Most High. God Most High. The first time this descriptive title of our Creator is used is in the book of Bereshit, Genesis, chapter number 14. What happened here is Abram, whose name was later changed to Abraham, got involved in a war because four kings came against Sodom where Abram’s nephew Lot was living. So when Abram found out that Lot had been attacked in Sodom, Abraham mustered together a force of 318 trained men, and Abram and these 318 trained men went to war against these massive warriors, these four kings and their armies that came against Sodom. They had captured Lot, they had taken Lot captive, They had taken Lot’s possessions as well as some others that had been living there. So Abraham and his team went against these four kings and their armies, and they were convincingly successful in destroying these foreign armies, rescuing Lot, recovering Lot’s possessions, as well as rescuing the others that were living there and their possessions as well. As a result of this victory, Abram was filled with the glory of El Elyon, God most high, that his God had supernaturally given him victory over a fierce fighting warrior, a gathering of four armies that had come against him. And while Abram is filled with this victory, he meets Melchizedek. Many of you know that Yeshua in the book of Hebrews, he is compared to Melchizedek. He is a priest in the order of Melchizedek because the Hebrew Bible tells us nothing about Melchizedek’s origin. We don’t know where Melchizedek came from. We don’t know where he went. He’s a very mysterious figure. It’s a type and shadow of Yeshua, who once again, the writer of Hebrews said, came in the order of Melchizedek. So Abraham sees this convincing supernatural victory that the creator had given him. And as a result of that, when Abram came across the priest Melchizedek, here’s what happened. Let me read it for you. Hear the word of God. And Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine. This is when Abram met him. Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine. Now he was a priest of God most high. And there’s where we find the Hebrew term El Elyon. So once again, Melchizedek meets Abram and he brings out Abram bread and wine. And then the scripture says, now Melchizedek was a priest of, and this is where we have the first use of, of the Hebrew title El Elyon. Now Melchizedek was a priest of El, God, Elyon, most high. So Melchizedek was a priest of El Elyon. And the scripture goes on to say, he, referring once again to Melchizedek, he blessed him, he blessed Abram and said, blessed be Abram. of God most high, possessor of heaven and earth. And there’s, by the way, the use of El Elyon again. Blessed be Abram of God most high, of El Elyon, possessor of heaven and earth. And blessed be God most high, there’s El Elyon again, blessed be God most high, who has delivered your enemies into your hand. And so we have, again, the first use here in the Torah the first book of the Torah, of seeing God being exalted, not just as God, like many of the pagans refer to their God as El, this is God, the God of Abram is God most high. He’s exalted above every other God, every knee that will bow, every tongue confess. Now, Yeshua, as I was speaking of earlier in the book of Hebrews, is likened to Melchizedek. He’s likened to El Elyon, God most high. And of course, Yeshua very clearly demonstrated his superiority over all creation. And the scripture tells us that every knee will bow, every tongue confess that Yeshua HaMashiach is Lord, that all authority in heaven and earth has been given to him. Yeshua is the incarnation of El Elyon, of God Most High. Now, why is this important for us? Why did God reveal himself to Abram in this way? And what is the beauty and the glory and the blessing and benefit of knowing that the one that we worship is El Elyon? Because knowing that God is exalted, that he’s so far above every circumstance, every other power, every person, every enemy that we’ll ever come against, knowing that our God reigns over all that can give us confidence that we’re not at the mercy of circumstances, places, people, or things. When we have confidence that our Creator loves us. and that the one that loves us is God most high, and that he has authority over everything, it gives us an ability to trust him, to trust life. And what I mean, trust life, what I mean by that is that we can trust the future because El Elyon is God over our future, that he loves us, that he’s watching over us, that he’s gonna take care of us and demonstrate his authority over our life, just like he did Abrams. So knowing… that you have a partner in life whose name is El Elyon, gives you the ability to be free and now trust. Perfect love casts out all fear. And when you know that you’re perfectly loved by El Elyon, the one that has authority over everything, it’s gonna give you a confidence and a victory that will enable you to live powerfully and victoriously in life.
SPEAKER 01 :
You’re listening to Discovering the Jewish Jesus, and Rabbi Schneider will be right back. But first, I want to invite you to take Rabbi’s teachings with you wherever you go. With the Discovering the Jewish Jesus podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and many more, you can listen to all of Rabbi’s powerful messages anytime. Stay rooted in God’s Word. Just search for Discovering the Jewish Jesus on your favorite podcasting platform today. Thank you. Do you want to be an instrument for God’s work on the earth? Well, join us as a new monthly partner and receive a handcrafted shofar that’s made in Israel. This instrument will announce Jesus’ second coming one day. And by supporting these teachings, you’re helping prepare the way for His return. So would you prayerfully consider joining us? Visit DiscoveringTheJewishJesus.com or partner with us by calling 800-777-7000. 7835. And now, back to Rabbi.
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There’s other places in Scripture that we find, particularly I’m going now to the prophet Daniel, we find this title of the Lord, El Elyon, being used. And again, it’s used to bring a point to the sovereignty our God has over everything that we’ll ever face in life. Most of us know the story. I’m going to Daniel chapter 4. And in Daniel 4, we read about a king called Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar got filled with pride. God had blessed him. The Lord had exalted him. And he was filled with pride and filled with himself. And one day he was up and he was looking at his kingdom. He was so full of himself. And I’m picking up now in Daniel chapter four, verse number one, Nebuchadnezzar said this, Nebuchadnezzar the king said to all the people’s nations and men of every language that live in the earth, he said this, may your peace abound. Now, you may ask yourself the question, well, why is that an issue? Nebuchadnezzar is this great king, and he’s saying to all the people in his kingdom, May your peace abound. The problem that we need to detect here is that Nebuchadnezzar in and of himself did not really have the ability or the authentic power to bless the people. He was exalting himself as if he was God and he had the ability to bless the people. He basically thought that he was God. As a result of this, the Lord sent him the prophet Daniel to warn him. And what happened was Nebuchadnezzar had this dream. And in the dream, Nebuchadnezzar saw this huge tree And this tree was bigger than everything else around it. And this tree was so big that the animals were all taking shade under it. And the animals were eating the crops that were under it. And the birds were landing in it. This tree was a mountain. And then all of a sudden, a voice spoke from heaven. And the tree got chopped down into a stump. And it began to eat the grass around it. And this dream really perplexed Nebuchadnezzar. He was very, very disturbed by it. It was very powerful. I don’t know if you’ve ever had a dream like that, but a dream, I know I’ve had many that they’re so intense. You’re just like, well, where did that come from? What did that mean? That’s how Nebuchadnezzar felt. He knew that something happened in the night. There was some type of spiritual activity, some spiritual dimension that he’d experienced that was so powerful that he realized it was beyond just a natural processing of thoughts that take place at night through dreams. He realized he encountered something that was so powerful that it meant something, and it greatly alarmed him. And so he called the people around him to give him counsel. And then he called Daniel to come because he had heard that Daniel could interpret dreams. And so Daniel comes, Nebuchadnezzar relates the dream to him. Nebuchadnezzar’s on top of his palace, he’s looking down, and he says this as he’s admiring what had been built. He says, is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty? While the words were still in his mouth, Nebuchadnezzar went mad. His dream immediately came to pass. He went insane. He began to crawl around in his hands and knees. In the madness, he was actually trying to eat grass. And he was in this state for seven years. At the end of the seven years, the Lord restored his sanity. and restored Nebuchadnezzar to his position. And I love what happens next. It’s one of my favorite portions of scripture. Let me read to you now what happened after Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity was restored to him. Nebuchadnezzar said this. I, Nebuchadnezzar, raise my eyes. He’s restored now after being mad for seven years and he looks up, but he’s a totally different person now. I, Nebuchadnezzar, raise my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me and I blessed the most high God. He blessed El Elyon. That’s the Hebrew there. I blessed the most high. So this is the term that we’re looking at, the title El Elyon. This is a place you see it in the prophetic writings. He said, and praised and honored him who lives forever for his dominion is an everlasting dominion and his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing but he does according to his will in the host of heaven, and, I want you to get this now, and among the inhabitants of the earth. And no one can ward off his hands or say to him, what have you done? He says, at that time, my reason returned to me and my majesty and my splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom. And my counselors and my nobles began seeking me out. So I was reestablished in my sovereignty and surpassing greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and honor the king of heaven.” for all his works are true and his ways are just, and he is able to humble those who walk in pride. What I love so much about this, beloved ones, is that Nebuchadnezzar has an experience that he comes to realize that God is not only reigning above in heaven, but that El Elyon, God most high, is reigning on the earth beneath. The point, friends, is that a lot of times we believe that God’s in heaven, he’s reigning in heaven, but somehow we think because we see so much tragedy around us, violence and sickness and death and starvation, we question whether God is really reigning on earth. But in this situation, we come to understand that God does reign on earth. The question becomes, if God is reigning on earth, why are we seeing so much tragedy? And the answer for that, which I’ll continue on in the next episode, is that in this period of history, God has removed his sovereignty over the world in terms of executing it in many circumstances and in many places. He’s able to exert himself, he’s able to show his sovereignty whenever he wants to, But temporarily, we’re in a state where he has taken himself back and he’s allowing a lot of things to go on right now that at the end of the age, he’s going to crush. And this is what we read about in the book of Revelation, that when the last trumpet sounds, the kingdom of the world becomes the kingdom of God and of his Christ. And this is why Jesus taught us to pray, our Father that art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. God is sovereign. He’s watching over your life. And as you pray for him to be involved, he’ll be sovereign over your life. And you’ll experience his sovereignty reigning right now in your life, beloved ones, and in your circumstances. Blessed be L.L. Young. All of us that are in relationship with God have within us the Ruach HaKadosh, the spirit of the living God. Jesus said in John 4 that his spirit within us could become a well of eternal life springing up so that we would thirst no more. But the key is, how do we drink from his spirit within us? In order to do this, beloved one, we have to die to ourself. I believe that through honoring the Lord with our tithes and our offerings, we go through an act of denying ourself, whereby through that act of dying to ourself, we’re better able to live from the life that’s within us. Giving to the Lord with our finances has always been a principle that Father’s taught for those that have been in relationship with Him. If discovering the Jewish Jesus is being a blessing to you, I would encourage you to honor Father God through this ministry if you feel the Holy Spirit prompting you to do so. Beloved, I want to thank you in advance for your love and financial support. God bless you and shalom.
SPEAKER 01 :
Amen. And as the Lord leads you to support Discovering the Jewish Jesus today, would you go online to our website? It’s discoveringthejewishjesus.com. And you can also give a gift of any amount by calling us at 800-777-7835. And your giving, it helps us to reach people like Christian who wrote and said, After listening to your program on the radio, I was drawn to your ministry and the revelation received through your teachings. I’ve gained a greater understanding than before of the scriptures and your teachings have helped me grow in my faith. And I’ve become much more mature as a follower of our Messiah. Wow, that’s a blessing. And you know, the way we’re sharing the gospel, it’s unique. And it’s resonating with people like Christian. So I want to thank you so much for supporting this ministry and helping us reach out to people. And then don’t forget, we have a free complimentary resource package for you today. It’s absolutely free. and it has to do with the Aaronic blessing. We pray it at the end of every episode, but if you ever ask yourself, what does it really mean? What does each line actually stand for as Rabbi prays it over me? Well, this free gift has a PDF guide along with an audio file. And it’s going to walk you through each powerful phrase of this sacred and special benediction. You can get it right now. Just go to our website, myfreegift.com forward slash peace. And it’s absolutely free. Make sure at the end of .com, add forward slash peace. And first, let’s wrap up today’s message. El Elyon, God Most High, with that special blessing. Rabbi.
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Blessings trump curses. And in the book of Numbers chapter 6, we find the Aaronic blessing that God commanded Moses’ brother Aaron, the high priest, to speak over the children of Israel. There’s power in blessing, beloved ones. So take part in receiving Father’s blessing upon your life today.
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift you up with his countenance. And the Lord give you, beloved one, his peace. God bless you and shalom.
SPEAKER 01 :
I’m your host, Dustin Roberts, and this program is produced and sponsored by Discovering the Jewish Jesus. Let me ask you, do you really know how involved God is in your life? Rabbi Schneider is going to challenge us with this topic Tuesday on Discovering the Jewish Jesus.
