There is a principle in the Scriptures that if you are faithful to walk according to the will of God, to be obedient in what He has revealed to you, then you shall receive more. If you want to move into the next level where there are new promises and provisions, then be faithful to walk in the things He has already revealed to you. Jesus said it this way: For whosoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance; but whosoever has not, from him shall be taken away even that he has. Matthew 13:12. That is the principle of use it or lose it.
Genesis 15:1 After these things…
“After these things” refers back to the previous chapter. Chedorlaomer the king of Elam and other kings with him made war and took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah. They also took Lot and all his goods and departed (Genesis 14:9-12). When Abram heard of this he took the trained men of his own house and pursued the enemy, attacked them, and took back all that they stole along with his nephew Lot. The king of Sodom wanted to reward Abram but he would receive nothing. Upon returning all the goods Abram was met by Melchizedek the priest of the most high God. He blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth” (Genesis 14:18-20).
Abram was being prepared for a meeting with God that would have its effects upon Abram and his seed; that is, Jesus Christ and the Church of His Kingdom. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith…Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made…And if you are Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:14,16,29. All the things concerning Abram since leaving the land of Ur of the Chaldees were preparatory for new promises and provisions of God. There would be more such meetings with God but this one was very important.
Genesis 15:1 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.
Was Abram fearful that Chedorlaomer and his armies would return for vengeance? That’s very possible because Abram and his few were only able to rout them because of their surprise attack, and, of course, God had brought the victory. Anyway, God appeared to Abram in a vision and said, “Fear not, Abram. I am thy shield.” This is one of the promises that lights upon Christ and those who are His. Have you taken advantage of this one? It doesn’t just happen. We receive the promise of the Spirit through faith (Galatians 3:14). The Lord as a shield is a provision; appropriate it and proclaim it as yours. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Ephesians 6:16. Pay particular attention to “taking the shield of faith.” Don’t wait for it; take it! Be aggressive in your faith! Honor God by earnestly believing His Word.
Next, God said, “I am thy reward.” Appropriate this, too. Would you settle for a little blessing? No! We want all that He is. He said that He is our reward, that’s the way it has to be. Most of Christianity is satisfied with much less. They are like the young, rich ruler that wanted to know what he had to do to inherit life. When Jesus told him, he hung his head and walked away. The cost was too great; he didn’t want it that much (Matthew 19:16-22). How much do you want the Lord to be your shield? How much do you want the Lord to be your reward?
Here is an interesting tidbit. The Hebrew word for “reward” is found in the name Issachar. The Hebrew for Issachar is Yissakar and the Hebrew for reward is sakar. The Lord Jesus is our true Issachar reward in the same way He is our Judah. He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and He is the reward of the tribe of Issachar. He is expressed in many different ways in the Scriptures and He can be to you in all those ways. But remember “we receive the promise of the Spirit through faith,” and I would qualify that faith with an aggressiveness to believe.
Genesis 15:2-3 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?
3 And Abram said, Behold, to me Thou hast given me no seed: and, lo, one born in
my house is mine heir.
God had promised Abram in Genesis 12:2, saying, “I will make of thee a great nation.” Again, in Genesis 13:16 God said He would make Abram’s seed as the dust of the earth in multitude. Abram had not forgotten that promise and immediately begins talking to God about it. “Lord, what are you going to give me, seeing I go childless? Thou hast given me no seed.” Abram was speaking with faith, reminding God of what He said. God said in Isaiah 43:26, “Put Me in remembrance,” and that is what Abram was doing. Abram was being aggressive in his faith, reminding God of what He had said. How aggressive should we be in our prayer? Well, this is what the Lord says about it. I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence, and give Him no rest, till He establish, and till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. Isaiah 62:6-7. Keep reminding God and keep praying until you have overcome all the unbelief in your heart.
Genesis 15:4-5 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.
5 And 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.
In Genesis 13:16 God likened Abram’s seed to the dust of the earth, speaking of his natural descendants. Here God tells Abram to look towards the heavens and says that his seed shall be as the stars in heaven for multitude. This time God is speaking about his spiritual descendants. Daniel spoke of these same light-bearing descendants. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. Daniel 12:3.
Genesis 15:6 And he believed in the Lord; and He counted it to him for righteousness.
After these things, Abram believed and it was counted to him as righteousness. Everything Abram had experienced as God dealt with him and led him brought him to righteousness. This is what God want to do for us, too. He will give us promises to believe and provisions to appropriate. God’s wants us to become believers that He may count us as righteousness. After these things…
Copyright © 2008 by Henry DuBose