ABIDING IN THE FAVOR AND PROTECTION OF THE LORD
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“Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” – Hebrews 11:8
Abraham, the biblical patriarch, sets out to follow God’s call upon his life. Leaving all behind… his past, his family, his home, his country… he obeys and charts his journey into an uncertain future. Yahweh, God Most High, promises him a land where his descendants will dwell.
“By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country.” – Hebrews 11:9
Abraham exemplifies a life of faith. He walks humbly, trustingly before his Lord. He settles as a foreigner in a new land… a land inhabited by hostile tribes. Yet the hand of God is upon Abraham. He has a holy calling on his life.
“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations.” – Romans 4:18
Abraham exhibits a deep love and trust in the Lord… faith in His unchanging character and His unfailing promises. God assures him of descendants abounding… in a land of promise and blessing. Through Abraham’s ancestral line, the prophesied Messiah will come.
“Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” – Romans 4:3
Yet all this is in Abraham’s future. Even when the promises seem impossible to come true, he believes. Yahweh sees Abraham’s great faith and declares him righteous. His faith in God’s covenantal vows, yet to be realized, sustained him on earth… and saved him for all eternity.
“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” – Genesis 15:1
Yahweh speaks to Abraham in a vision with these promises… promises this humble man so needs to hear. For in this new land, he sees the prevalence of evil and the scarcity of good. The Eternal I Am assuages Abraham’s worldly fears by vowing to be his shield. He reaffirms His everlasting commitment to him by pledging to be his reward.
→ Abraham’s Shield
Yahweh sets out His covenantal relationship with Abraham. He will act as Abraham’s Protector… shielding him from all harm. The Creator of heaven and earth will serve as his Defender… countering all the evil that comes against His chosen one. Living in God’s divine and powerful protection, Abraham will be safe, secure, free from fear.
→ Abraham’s Reward
Yahweh is saying that He Himself is Abraham’s reward, his Provider, his source of all good. He belongs to God. Throughout his time on earth, God will be his portion, his all-sufficiency in life. And Yahweh promises to be Abraham’s reward for all eternity… where he will forever abide in the favor and blessing of the Lord.
→ Our Shield
“You, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.” – Psalm 3:3
Like Abraham, believers set out on a journey into an unknown future when they come to believe. Yet our faith rests in a known God. He is the God of our righteousness. He is Jesus, our Savior, our Protector, our Defender.
“He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” – Psalm 91:4
Jesus is our shelter, our safe haven. He is our ultimate shield against all the sin and evil of this world. We have His hand of protection upon us… His victorious, unfailing power upholding us. He protects us in our physical and spiritual battles. Jesus shields us eternally from death… and promises us life everlasting.
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” – Psalm 84:11
As we walk humbly before our Lord in faith and obedience, He will fend off the piercing darts of the enemy. These darts can be pride, fear, doubt, bitterness, resentment, disappointment… anything that keeps us from trusting in His shield of protection. We trust in Christ’s shield to quench these fiery darts that attempt to derail our faith.
→ Our Reward
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16
God has given us His Son as our exceedingly great reward… our treasure that is infinite, eternal. Jesus is our Provider… our spiritual inheritance… our source of all good in an evil world. What greater reward could we, as believers, have than Christ Himself? He is our life, our portion, our everything.
“See, your Savior comes! Look, His reward is with Him, and His recompense goes before Him.” – Isaiah 62:11
Jesus promises us that we are His and He is ours. This is our covenantal relationship. We walk in His divine love, favor and protection. His infinite resources, His spiritual blessings, His eternal presence… all are ours. He is our greatest gift, our glory forever. He is all we could ever need or want… all we could ever hope for.
“The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” – Zephaniah 3:17
Believers are saved and called with a holy calling from God. Like Abraham, we may leave all behind for Christ… family, friends, home, country… to follow His promises. Yet we need not be afraid, for we are never alone. The Lord promises this most wonderful assurance. He is ever-faithful, never changing. What greater reward could there be than the everpresence of Christ by His Spirit, now and eternally?
