I Am Your Shield and Exceeding Great Reward, Genesis 15:1

 

Genesis 15:1

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.”

After what things?

After Abram rescued his nephew, Lotta-Trouble-Lot, and thereby put a target on his back by attacking four of the most powerful kings in the territory.  (Abraham’s Rescue Operation, Genesis 14)

Plus, if that’s not enough, he ostracized himself from the king of wicked Sodom, by refusing to take as much as a thread or a shoelatchet (sandal strap) from the spoils of war, “lest you say ‘I have made Abram rich.’”  (Genesis 14:23).

The sodomites were probably like: “Fine, Mr. Goody-Two-Shoes, see if we ever come to your rescue…. Now, where’s my stuff?”

So, after all that, Abram might’ve been feeling a bit alone and exposed, scared.

 

So, the Word of the Lord came to Abram.

The Word of the Lord came to Abram, and He still comes to us.

At the end of Abraham’s Rescue Operation, Genesis 14, we met Melchizedek, we believe this to be a Christophany, (an appearance of Christ in the Old Testament); Genesis 14:18-20. (A Theophany is a tangible manifestation of God; but not always, in human form. We’ll see an example of this when we reach, Genesis 15:17).

To us, here and now, this moment, this message; the Word of the Lord is coming to us, written, and preached.

He still speaks in various ways; through visions, dreams, His Word, preaching, a still small inner voice, a knowing, an unction, an angel.

For those who listen, He is speaking, directly, personally, intimately.

 I may be talking, (writing), but He is speaking.

Listen.

By whatever means, the Word of God always comes with a purpose, and it will not return void but will prosper in the thing whereunto it was sent. Isaiah 55:11.

The Word comes, with the means, to meet the needs, to which it was sent.

However, alas, unfortunately, not all receive it.

For example:

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14), but by your tradition (Jesus says to the religious folks) you make of none effect the Word of God (Mark 7:13).

The Light of the world shines in the darkness, (John 1:5), but the world loves darkness more than Light (John 3:19).

The Lord speaks.

Not all listen.

The Word of the Lord came to Abram…

And what did He say?

Fear not. Do not be afraid.

The Bible says fear not, a lot. We heard it often as we walked through Joshua.

It seems every time an angel shows up with a message, the first words are, “Fear not…”

Someone said the Bible tells us not to fear 365 times—once for every day of the year.

Why so often?

Because we need it.

The world’s a wicked scary place. And getting wickeder.

God has had to hit the delete key a few times in a few places, He did a hard reset once (the flood) and is scheduled to do one more, after the Tribulation and Millenium; this time with fire, not water.

After that, it won’t be scary anymore, forever, in the New Heaven New Earth.  

But for now, until then, God has placed in His Word, a fear not, for every day of the year.

On the other hand, social media, seems to have a fear-a-lot, for every second of every day of the year.

Social Media, (where most go for info. and entertainment) is hard wired with snares set to trigger, fear and anger.

The goal is to enrage you, which will engage you.

Then, you’re hooked.

You begin data digging, because your mind will crave the info. you need to know to defeat the monster you fear (the monster they created).

The data you discover, will be mostly fake news because algorithms are set to promote the explosive, and suppress Truth.

So, we spend precious time scouring lies, instead of investing in the Truth (God’s Word and Presence).

We go to bed with our head spinning, our hearts troubled and wake up unrested, so we need coffee and energy drinks to stay awake, and sleeping pills and alcohol to go to sleep.

We trash our minds and bodies, to the point that we can’t do His will, hear His Voice, or feel His peace.

This is a self-perpetuating, self-destructive, vicious cycle we can’t fix.

Because:

Peace Is Not Absence of Trouble but Presence of God

Jesus addresses snares in John 16:1 when He says:

These things I have spoken to you that you should not be made to stumble. (Instead of the word “stumble” your translation may say something like: offended, fall away, caught off guard, led to sin…).

In the original text, the Greek word is skandalizó; where we get our word, scandal.

Skandalizó literally means, “to put a snare in the way.”

So, the Word of the Lord comes to us, to keep us from stumbling, from skandalizó, from the snares, strategically set to trigger us into fear and anger—which are killers of faith and peace.

 

So, God shows up, and says to Abram, don’t be afraid.

Jesus shows up and says to His disciples, (and us) the same thing:

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me” John 14:1

And then, He says it again in that same chapter:

“Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” John 14:27

 

Fear Not, is not a suggestion.

Children of God are not to be afraid; they are to be-lieve.

 

Yeah, but Doug, that’s not possible, you just said the world’s a scary place.

Right, it is.

We will experience fear, and in that there’s no shame. It’s not a sin to be human.

However, we are not to be, or stay or live, in fear, constantly afraid.

Revelation 21:8, makes this abundantly, painfully, clear. The cowardly, the fearful, will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but find their eternal home in the lake of fire. 

Now let's move on quickly, lest you get snared in fear. 

 God is love… There is no fear in Love; but perfect love casts out fear. 1 John 4:16-18.

His commandment is that we live in His Love (John 13:34). 

In so doing, His Love, (not our courage), will cast out fear.

So, maybe it is impossible—so what? With God, all things are possible. Mark 10:27.

Walking in His Love causes fear to flee.

Psalm 27:1-5

Psalm 91:1-4

 

“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

Shield.

Who needs a shield?

Those who are being attacked. Those who need protecting.

God is not saying, “Everything is fine, everybody is good, nobody is attacking, it’s all sunshine and roses.”

He is saying, “I am your shield…” meaning, there are arrows headed your way, there is an enemy shooting, but I stand between you and your enemy as your shield. Your Protector.

Awesome!

Some folks take passages like this to mean they are ten feet tall and bullet proof. That type of thinking is dangerous, unwise and untrue.  

It’s important to know that God chose the Word shield, on purpose; and by implication, demands we maintain a proper position, for the promise to be effective.

 You must remain close to the shield for protection; even if you don’t like its location, you must stay with it, go where it goes, and stay where it stays.

We must remain behind the shield. If you think it’s too slow, and get in front of it—even if you’re headed the right direction—you’re going to get hit, maybe even be killed.

And it won’t be God’s fault, or His plan, or His purpose for your life.

Jesus says the same thing, even deeper; instead of a shield, He said,

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. John 15:5-6.

Can’t get much closer than a vine and branches.

 

Those who follow Him, stay close to Him, those with that dogged determination, committed to staying in His Presence, are those whom He can trust to reveal things to come. Those, are they, who are in position for Him to be their Shield, their Vine.

This is powerfully self-perpetuating.

What do I mean?

Okay, Abram heard, the Word of the Lord, the disciples heard, the Word of the Lord; you and I, here and now are hearing, the Word of the Lord.

Romans 10:17 says, Faith comes by hearing The Word of God.

Ephesians 6:16 tells us that faith is a shield, in the armor of God.

Above all, taking the shield of faith, whereby you are able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

So, the Word of the Lord creates faith, and that faith, is a shield.

So, for those who stay (abide) close enough to hear and heed, the Word of God (rhema), creates faith, and that faith, is a shield; a supernatural forcefield, a Spiritual Iron Dome. 

With God, as your shield, of whom shall you be afraid?  

 

It’s no mistake God plants these faith building, shield creating, Words into Abraham, who is to be the father of a great nation, the father of faith.

It is no mistake He is planting these faith building, shield creating, Words in you, here and now.   

 

“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

Notice, this is after Abram refused a king’s reward. In Genesis 14:23, he denied himself as much as a shoelatchet of the victor’s plunder.

He made a vow to God, and kept it.

Abram’s attitude opened the door for God to not only be his Shield, his Protector, but also, his Provider. Like the Vine provides for the branches.

Jesus puts it like this:

“Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33.

For Abram, and us, the best presents aren’t wrapped in paper and bow, or silver and gold, but the Presence of the Lord.

Immanuel; meaning God with us. 

The Word of the Lord, came to us wrapped in skin, and swaddling clothes, laid in a manger.

 

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, we come to you in the name of Jesus.

Lord, we long to follow close to You. Thank You for being our Protector and Provider. Help us walk in Your Love, and thereby, without fear.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

 

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