DRAW NEAR TO EL ELYON!

Yesterday I sent a text to my son, Matthew, who is in Utah this weekend, doing work with Plant Utah. I asked him how Utah was treating him, and his reply was something along the lines of "The owner of Utah is treating me great! We are staying with one of the Owner's stewards." I loved that response, and thought how it fit in with our subject matter today, Draw near to El Elyon, the sovereign God, possessor of heaven and earth, yes the owner of Utah . How wonderful when we can think in terms of serving El Elyon, the owner of EVERYTHING! When we read Genesis 14, we learned how the two kings responded to Abram. Melchizedek, king of Salem, and a worshipper of the true God, brought gifts, food and praise to Abram and to El Elyon. On the other hand, the king of Sodom, attempted to bribe Abram. Abram responded as he should have, he gave praise to El Elyon and told the king of Sodom he would not accept anything from the king, because he would not allow that king to claim the glory for what God had delivered into his hands.

Genesis 14:22-23 "But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the LORD, God Most High, (El Elyon) Creator of heaven and earth, (Elohim) that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’"

May we learn to always draw close to God, and give Him the praise and glory He deserves for everything in our lives. Draw near to El Elyon. Learn to depend on Him. Remember He is your sovereign! We saw in our Scripture readings in Genesis 39, how Joseph also drew near to El Elyon. How Joseph made sure everyone knew it was indeed God who gave him the interpretations of the dreams. Joseph gave credit where credit was due. And God indeed did bless Joseph.

Genesis 39:21-23 "the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did."

Genesis 41: 14-16 "So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”

And then again when Joseph encounters his brothers, he gives the glory for all that has happened in his life to El Elyon.

Genesis 45: 4-11 "Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.[ “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’

Joseph acknowledges that all his problems, all the bad things others have done to him were actually all worked out for the greater good by his Sovereign, El Elyon.

How very awesome is one of my favorite verses of Scripture, found in the book of Romans. Let's meditate on it as we close out this study today.

Romans 8:28 And we know that [God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:37 "But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us."