Attributes of God 4

A friend of mine has organized a national prayer ministry of parents for their prodigal children. I think her perspective adds to our quest for knowing and enjoying God series. She recommends parents to pray the names of God for their prodigals and claim the promises those names represent. Two names to look at are El Elyon and El Shaddai.

She states, “When we watch the too-often out-of-control behavior of our prodigal loved ones, that is also how we feel: Out of control. We can’t help them, we can’t stop them, we can’t change them. We can’t control them. It is good when we recognize this, for then we will turn to El Elyon, the Most High God.“The literal meaning is “God is the high one.” Synonyms would be sovereign and ruler.

"In other words, He is in control. This name of God appears throughout the Old Testament, but most often in the book or Daniel. Here we read the story of Nebuchadnezzar, the mighty ruler of the Babylonian empire. Though he acknowledged the power of Daniel’s God, he still believed he wa s in control. Thus God’s word to him: “You will be driven away from people and will live with wild animals…Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men…”“And that is what happened. After seven years of living as an animal, the King looked to heaven and was restored. 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…”

“Accompanying this out of control feeling is the overwhelming sense that we are powerless. All the restrictions and incentives, all the penalties and rewards, all the carrots and consequences—with many of our prodigals nothing works. We have no power, no means, it seems, to influence their choices. “But we do have El Shaddai, God Almighty. We first learn about El Shaddai in Genesis 17:1,2: When Abram was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty; walk! before me and be blameless. I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers."

“We find this name of God used 48 times, most often in the ongoing conversation between Job and his friends. Job said: “But I desire to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case with God” (Job 13:3). Of course, when he got the chance, he quickly discovered that God really is the Almighty—all powerful and all sufficient.“For those of us who feel out of control and powerless with our prodigals, these strong names of God are foundational. “First they are essential for us. Even in the most desperate days, we have the assurance that our God is in control and He is able to do whatever is needed. Nothing is impossible for Him. And second, we can pray for our loved ones in the name of El Elyon and El Shaddai. We can entrust them to this Most High, All Powerful God of the universe. Nothing is too difficult f or Him."