Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward. (Genesis 15:1)
The Sovereign Lord, the God of the universe makes this affirming statement to Abraham assuring him of his place in God‘s plan. He says to him, “do not be afraid” (Genesis 15:1).This affirming word assures Abraham that God is with him! Perfect love casts out all fear. God, therefore, who is perfect love, cast out Abraham’s fear. The Psalmist David, a son of Abraham, hundreds of years later would utter these words, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me” (Psalm 23:4).The blessing of God comes to the person of faith and as a priority, removes fear that he may now lay hold of God. The Sovereign Lord also spoke to Isaac saying, “I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham’s sake” (Genesis 26:24). He says inIsaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
God further speakspromises to Abraham that each of us should take for ourselves, for “if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29). To Abraham, He says, “I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward” (Genesis 15:1)! In these few but powerful words, the Lord promises to be Abram’s protector and protection and to give Himself to him as a reward for his faith! It is astounding that God would do this for a man! As a result, Abraham lived in the midst of enemies, but they were never able to overcome him because God had promised that He was his shield, his protection! And his descendants recognized that their God was also their shield. Let us examine a few testimonies from the scriptures. “Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, the shield of your help and the sword of your majesty! Your enemies shall submit to you, and you shall tread down their high places” (Deuteronomy 33:29). “But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head” (Psalm 3:3). “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11). David says, “He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler” (Psalm 91:4).
God promised a man, Abraham, that He had rewarded his faith by giving Himself to this man, and through Abraham, He has also done it for everyone who is of faith. “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘in you all the nations shall be blessed.’ So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham” (Galatians 3:8-9).How did the scripture preach the Gospel to Abraham? He says, “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:2–3).God Himself, being Abraham’s reward, gave him unlimited possibilities. You, too, have limitless possibilities in Christ, the Seed of Abraham. Abraham found all this through faith, not a faith that pursues things but a faith that pursues God unto apprehension! Things were not Abraham’s pursuit; God was his goal! And He is the goal of every diligent seeker through Jesus Christ. Jesus has made all things possible by His life within you. “For with God nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37). “The Lord said to Aaron,‘I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel’” (Numbers 18:20). And in Psalm 58:11, He says, “surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely He is God who judges in the earth.”
“Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (Romans 4:3).You now have imputed righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, and because of Jesus, you are joint heirs with Him. You now inherit all things! Blessed be God who has greatly enriched us through Christ unto Himself!