Your Shield and Exceedingly Great Reward

Abraham was a man who believed God, and his faith was accounted to him as righteousness.  As he walked in obedience to God's directives, he had many opportunities to grow in faith.  One of these time is after his brother's son Lot was taken captive by four kings who had just defeated five other kings.  Genesis 14:14-15 says, "Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. ¹⁵ He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus."  From a military viewpoint, Abraham faced long odds - he and his 318 trained servants against four victorious kings!  God granted Abraham a most improbable victory and recovered all as we read in Genesis 14:16:  "So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people."

The next chapter begins, "After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward." (Genesis 15:1)  Place yourself in Abraham's position.  He did not live in a castle with thick walls or a state-of-the-art security system.  He did not have an army or military-grade weapons.  He could not dial triple zero or 9-1-1!  He had no motion lights affixed to his tent, no locks, bunker, or moat filled with crocodiles.  Abraham lived in a tent with his family!  All his possessions were out in the open without any of the security we are used to.  Having just defeated and plundered four kings, needless to say Abraham didn't make any friends.  He was a target, a sitting duck for an enemy ambush.  Or was he?

Abraham didn't need to be afraid because God was his shield.  Abraham, his family, and goods were in the safest of hands!  I'm sure Abraham thought to himself later:  "I wonder if pursuing and destroying those kings was the best idea.  Then I gave a tenth to the King and Priest of Salem Melchizedek, and returned all the spoil save what my men ate to sustain themselves.  Was that the best course of action?"  God did not leave Abraham in doubt but spoke comfort and promises to him.  God was his shield and exceedingly great reward.  God was all he needed.  God would take care of fulfilling His word that Abraham would have a son though his wife was barren and he was old.  Abraham's future was secure in God, and God was all he needed. 

May this be a good reminder to us when we face insecurity and an uncertain future.  If Abraham's God is your God, He is your shield and your exceedingly great reward.  He will protect you and bring to pass what He has promised.  He will never leave or forsake you.  Instead of giving place to fear and doubt, resolve to be strong and courageous as you trust God.  Take to heart the words of Christ in Matthew 6:30-33:  "Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹ Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."