Ok . . . so there . . . he had gone and done it now. No more living “below the radar” in this foreign land. No more just blending in with the scenery. Abram had clearly shown himself to his neighbors. He had rescued Lot, and he had made some enemies . . . and not just any enemies . . . but powerful, king-type enemies (Gen. 14:1-17). In addition, the one king who he might have become an ally with, he may have insulted by not taking payment from him for defeating the other marauding royalty (Gen. 14:21-24). And so, I kind of imagine Abram at some point after the adrenalin rush of battle, alone with his thoughts. And, as he goes over in his mind all that has just happened, his heart starts racing again . . . maybe a bit of panic sets in, as he thinks, “What have I done? They’ll be back, those kings, and will be seeking revenge. The king of Sodom with think me an ingrate and not lift a finger to help me. I’ve put everything at risk. What have I done?”

“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.’ ” — Genesis 15.1

Those are the words that caused me to pause this morning. Apparently, this is the first mention of “the word of the Lord” coming to someone. The fact that it is in “a vision” has some believing that it is the Word of the Lord, the Second Person of the Trinity. Regardless of how God exactly “called this audible” with Abram, the message is one of supreme comfort and assurance. Do not be afraid . . . I am your shield . . . I am your beyond measure reward.

For the believer, how much of dealing with life’s “panic attacks” is the reminder of who God is and that He has, in His Sovereign purposes, chosen to have relationship with us. As such, we need not fear . . . for He is our shield. He is our protection. He is our defense. We might engage in the fight, but the battle is the Lord’s. We might go toe-to-toe with enemies but really it’s not by our might, nor our strength, but by the Spirit of the living God within us (Zech. 4:6). Sometimes we’re too weak to even lift engage the enemy . . . and then, He stands in the breach and by His grace, and for His glory, He defends the defenseless . . . helps the helpless . . . gives strength to the weary. Do not be afraid, Abram . . . I am your shield.

And then, this word that comes to Abram in this vision, promises so much more. It would have been enough just to rest in His protection and salvation, but, he also promises great reward . . . and that reward is intrinsically interwoven with the “God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth” (Gen. 14:19, 22), Himself. That’s the prize . . . that’s the goal . . . that’s the reward . . . God, Himself. Everything else beyond that is just gravy. To be in relationship with God Most High is exceedingly great reward. Do not be afraid . . .

Abram was told that God’s promises were sure . . . that His blessings were beyond number . . . and Abram “believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to Him for righteousness” (Gen. 15:6). As Abram continued to talk with the Lord, his thoughts turned from “What have I done?” to “He can be trusted!” His panic subsided as the peace of God prevailed. Fear gave way to faith.

There would still be battles to be faced . . . mistakes to be made . . . more fear and panic to be experienced . . . but the bottom line is that Abram believed the Lord . . . His shield . . . His exceedingly great reward . . . and the rest, as they say, is history.

Father, thank You for the reminder this morning that in You is my reward. That knowing You is the treasure. That one day being with You is the prize. And that, until that day, You are my shield . . . my Protector . . . my peace. For Your glory, amen?