“The Reward”
Christian, so many times we perceive men and women in the Bible to be extraordinarily different than we are today. The truth is, it is not about the individuals we read about in the Bible, but it is about the Infinite God Who chose, by His sovereign pleasure, to save and use them for His purposes. Abraham was a man God chose to use in history to begin His nation in which He would send a messiah, Jesus, to save the world from their sins. Abraham was far from perfect and all his failures are transparently written for every human eye to read on the pages of Holy Scripture. For this reason, this leads us not to put assurance upon the faith of Abraham, but upon God who created in Him saving faith as He says himself, “God caused me to wander from my father’s house.” His faith was proven again and again when he trusted the Lord to do what seemed impossible in the circumstances that were given to him.
We must fully understand that Abraham lived in the weakness and the frailty of human flesh just like us. He was born into the captivity of sin and was at one time a slave of darkness. He was held in the bonds of iniquity awaiting the death sentence of eternal judgement, blinded to the reality of his own fate. Take note my brethren of the sinfulness of sin. It is so deceiving that it sends image bearers of God skipping with great joy down the highway to hell, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. What a tragic state fallen humanity is in. It is as if Satan and his orchestra of demon’s prey upon the weakness of sinful flesh by playing, as if it were, a symphony of pleasure to the human mind, mesmerizing the intellect, leading them to dance joyfully into the chasm of eternal damnation forever. Though Abraham was the Father of the Lord’s nation, this was His position apart from the sheer pleasure of The Lord redeeming Him. It was God himself that moved upon Abraham’s wicked heart, intoxicating Him with His love, that led Him to saving faith.
Abraham left everything He knew, and the Lord became his shield, and exceeding great reward. Though Abraham had many faults and failures, upon his feeble legs echoed a faith that held on to the promises of God even when from the natural eyes it seemed impossible. Christian, if you have been granted saving faith through Jesus Christ, then you have the same faith as Abraham and the Lord is your shield and your exceedingly great reward. This faith speaks a sweet melody to your heart just as it did to the nation that was formed out of the seed of Abraham, “Thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” Just think dear Christian what this means to you, just as Spurgeon writes, “God is yours in everything that He is. His omnipotence is pledged to strengthen you, His omniscience is engaged to direct you. All His attributes are employed on your behalf. He is everywhere present; and, therefore, He will show himself everywhere strong for your defense. He is immutable, so He changes not in his love to you. He is eternal, so his mercy endures forever.” May God’s grace be with you.
DEVOTIONAL
“After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward”
Genesis 15:1 KJVS