Genesis 15:1-51After 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. 2And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? 3And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. 4And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. 5And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. (Genesis 15:1‑5)
“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.”
When Abram acted faithfully it was the Lord’s delight to encourage him. This is ever His way with His people. It was after his experience in delivering Lot from the enemy and himself being preserved from temptation, that the word of the Lord came to Abram with its cheering promise. Abram had employed the sword in victory, but now the Lord tells him, “I am thy shield”—reminding him there would be further attacks to contend with. He would never be without need of a shield and the Lord presented Himself as such to him. He was also Abram’s exceeding great reward. How much better this reward than the spoils of the enemy! The world’s trophies might be enjoyed for a season but the divine reward was promised for his entire lifetime and for eternity as well!
“And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt Thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?” verse 2. Many years earlier Abram had heard the promise: “I will make of thee a great nation,” and “I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.” These words had been a real encouragement and he had never forgotten them. God did not forget them either, although He permitted His servant’s faith to be tried for more than twenty years.
“And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.” verse 4.
Now, made bold by the reassurances of the Lord’s words, Abram inquired in what way the promise would be fulfilled, since he was without a son of his own. The Lord told him plainly that Eliezer should not be his heir, and for the first time definitely promised that he would have a son, who would be his true successor.
God had told Abram earlier, “I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth.” (Gen. 13:1616And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. (Genesis 13:16)). But now He brought him forth and said, “Look now toward heaven, and tell (count) the stars... so shall thy seed be.” verse 5. The whole scope of blessings becomes expanded and we are given some insight of the way in which Abraham, through faith, became father to a heavenly, as well as an earthly people. The “heavenly people” are the true Church now, composed of all who rest in faith on the work of Calvary. “God,... hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:6,76And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:6‑7). How suited it was that God called on Abram to look upward when the greater blessings were given.
ML 05/30/1965