Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have sworn to the LORD God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, for fear you would say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’” (Genesis 14:22–23)

Found only here in Scripture, this particular name of God shows Abraham’s allegiance unambiguously. He and his men had fought against a consortium of kings who had captured another group of kings, which involved the rescue of Abraham’s nephew Lot and his family. After Abraham’s military intervention, two of the “rescued” kings came to meet him.

We have already seen in our discussion of the name “El Elyon” that the king of Salem, Melchizedek, worshiped God Most High (El Elyon) and recognized that Abraham was a believer in the same God Most High (Gen 14:18-20). The patriarch validated this connection by giving Melchizedek a tithe (10 percent) of the spoils of war from the recent military engagement.

But there was another king involved, the king of Sodom, to whom Abraham reacts much differently. Whereas King Melchizedek brought out food and drink for Abraham, the king of Sodom brought out demands to Abraham: “Give the people to me and take the goods for yourself” (Gen 14:21). By rights, according to the custom of the day, the victor or rescuer, being in the obviously stronger position, dictated the terms of agreement.

Abraham’s response was crystal clear: he had an undying allegiance to the LORD God Most High, Yahweh El Elyon. He would not be beholden to an earthly king. The name of God he used was similar to the one used before, but now he felt it important to add “Yahweh,” God’s personal name. Abraham previously had no qualms about receiving some wealth from Pharaoh in Genesis 12, but that was under the ruse that Sarah, his wife, was his sister—a plot Abraham used to protect himself while he fled Canaan during a famine. He was still learning about God’s faithfulness to His promise to make Abraham into a great nation. So now, when the king of Sodom offered to give Abraham all the spoils of war (except the defeated people), the patriarch adamantly refused. He would trust only in God for his blessings.

Abraham was growing in his faith, and the God he followed is not just a generic superpower or super authority, but He is Yahweh El Elyon. He is personal, and He has a name. Today, people easily sprinkle “god” in their conversations without knowing much about the true God. The true God is not just a nebulous, undefined deity-belief, but He is real, and He is person.

Lord, I want to help others know You, not just as “god” but as the true God of the universe. Help me be courageous to use Your name when witnessing.