Pearls from the Bible 68

The dictionary gives the meaning of "reward" as something earned for our good actions. What big rewards have you been presented with so far? A trophy, a substantial sum of money, a scholarship—what else? Can you imagine having been given something larger than life itself as a reward? In Genesis chapter 14, Abram chose not to receive anything from any man. After this, the Lord showed up again to Abram. This time, in Chapter 15, verse 1, the Lord said to Abram, "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.' Can we find any shield better than the Lord himself? Can you imagine your enemy trying to touch God? It can never happen. For Abram, God was the shield. No one can imagine touching Abram. We live among powerful people, politicians who have escorts to protect them with their lives—they will always travel with him/her. In danger, they surround him/her like a shield. Here, God is Abram's shield. To my limited understanding, it means the enemy can never ever come near Abram. The other half of the verse is more challenging, where God says, "He is the reward for Abraham". God is someone who lacks nothing in Himself. Whatever we need is in Him—emotional, physical, or spiritual needs lie in Him, or He himself is what we need. No things of this world, no relationships, no feelings of ours could ever satisfy us but God. He is the one person who makes us full. May the God of Abram be our reward and shield, as He was to him. Poor Abram, when God spoke these powerful, matchless words to him, said he needs a child. God didn't reprimand his worries but addressed them by coming down to him and showing a practical example that he will have descendants like stars. Abram asked for a child, but in God (Abram's reward) lie the descendants of Abram who are like stars.

Dear God, help us have a wide perspective. Help us understand your heart. Be our reward, Lord. As children, help us grow in faith in you. Let us not be troubled by the small view we have of our life. May we be assured that the God who is much bigger, greater, and more real than anything in this whole world is our reward. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.