Do we really treasure God's promises to us?
Abram has just experienced a great victory fighting injustice, he rescued Lot after a year of captivity by some of the surrounding nations, only God could have given him success with such a small group of men.
Abram has also experienced a victory over the temptation to achieve God's promises through his own efforts. The spoils of war would have been a great way to boost his financial resources but Abram gave God a tithe right off the top and he turned down the financial offer from the king of Sodom to keep the rest of the booty.
Abram could have trusted in his own abilities for success in life, he could have pursued one victory after another in an effort to provide his own happiness and peace, but these victories can never satisfy like the offer that God has for Abram.
Even after all of the recent success Abram needs a word from God, success isn't a cure for the doubts and fears that come our way, even when things are going our way we can still get discouraged. Our loving father in Heaven comes to his child to remind him of some truths that will never change.
GOD IS OUR SHIELD
God told Abram in a vision to "fear not," he may have been troubled because he feared that the kings he just defeated may come back for him with more man power. God knows we are emotional and "fear not" is a message that we would need to hear repeated over and over again. (Hebrews 13:6)
God's shields are so superior to the ones that man creates, his shields offer 100% protection, man's shields have to be small because of the weight. If they were large enough to cover the warrior completely then the shield would be too much of a burden to carry in battle.
Psalm 20:7 Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the LORD our God.Our shield is so amazing but the Bible still has to remind us so often to "fear not." We have the most awesome love story from Genesis all the way through Revelation but we still have to be reminded that fear is a liar.
God's shield is greater than:
- Satan - He is a cruel and powerful foe for sure but our shield is greater than our defeated enemy.
- Man - The ungodly man has no hope of defeating you since he is less powerful than Satan.
- The sorrows and afflictions of life - Persecution, poverty and pain are a part of this sin filled world that we will have to experience for a season.
GOD IS OUR GREAT REWARD
Abram may have been discouraged because he doesn't have a son yet and there isn't any progress on acquiring the land that was promised. Abram longed for the same things we all want in this life, he gave up his home, he rejected the riches from the king of Sodom and his desire to have a son has not come true. God seemed to be withholding all of the rewards that this life offers for a greater prize. (Hebrews 13:5)
We need to ponder the superiority of God as our great reward over all that the world has to offer. If we don’t, we will love the world like everyone else and live like everyone else. -John PiperWe have the greatest reward yet we are all caught up in the lesser things of this world that we think are rewarding and will add to our pleasure. We have the pleasure and honor of knowing God and having his presence in our life and we flippantly ask for something else.
Think about it, God says, "I am your very great reward" and Abram says "where's my son?"
But we are just like Abram, we ask for more of what the world has to offer when we have the ultimate reward. The children of the king forget there standing in the family of God and behave like peasants.
You may be overwhelmed that you are called to endure much and to give up so much in this life for the kingdom but your reward is so incredibly great and your shield will take care of you.
You may be overwhelmed with fear and need to find peace, enter into God's presence, recall his promises and your fears won't stand a chance.
