Title: Help for the Fearful

Scripture reading: Genesis 15:1

^“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.”

Main idea: Believe God’s Word: fear not, God is the believer’s shield and great reward.

Genesis 15:1 is closely linked with the last part of Genesis 14. Because Abraham refused the rewards of the king of Sodom, God said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward,” thus making Abram both protected and fabulously wealthy. Abraham had a great victory over some warring nations; he had rescued Lot in the victory and defeated the temptation presented by the King of Sodom. Now God gives him blessings and encouragement for his faithfulness to God.

“The word of the LORD came to Abram.”
Genesis 15:1 begins by saying: “after these things.” After what things? Chapter 14 gives the account of the military raid Abram made to rescue his nephew Lot; the subsequent appearance to him of two kings—the king of Sodom and Melchizedek, king of Salem; Abram’s worship of Melchizedek; and his refusal to take even a shoelace from the king of Sodom.

“The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision.” This is a phrase typically introducing revelation to a prophet. Abraham is actually called a prophet in Genesis 20:7. Visions were one of the three primary methods of divine revelation in the Old Testament along with dreams and direct communications (Num. 12:6-8).

“Word of the LORD came to Abram.” One of the great blessings you and I can have is possession of God’s Word. To read it, and to hear it preached should never be taken lightly. It is essential to our spiritual well-being. Few people see much value in the Word. The worst famine that can ever come to man is “not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord” (Amos 8:11).

“He who despises the word will be destroyed, But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.” (Proverbs 13:13).

“Fear not.”
“Fear not,” to Abram indicates Abram was fearful. This is the first time you find the assuring words fear not in the Bible. God repeated them to Isaac (Gen. 26:24) and Jacob (46:3) and often to the people of Israel (Ex. 14:13; 20:20; Num. 14:9; Deut. 1:21). Challenge often follows victory. Don’t be surprised, if, after you experience victory spiritually, like Abram you face a time of discouragement emotionally. “Fear not,” the angel said to a flock of frightened shepherds (Luke 2:10). “Fear not,” Jesus said to the disciples (Mark 4:40). “Fear not,” the angel said to a disheartened Paul (Acts 27:24).

Abraham had some reasons to fear; for when you defeat great kings, they often retaliate later. But God’s word assured Abraham not to fear. God can bring peace in the midst of great fear. But if God is excluded from your life, fear will take over. If you lack peace and are beset by fears, the remedy is to draw near to God. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10). Your life is only as big as your faith, and your faith is only as big as your God. If you spend all your time looking at yourself and the circumstances, you will get discouraged, but if you look to God by faith, you will be encouraged.

The Protection of God (God Himself is the believer’s shield).
“I am your shield.” Abraham didn’t have to worry about another battle because the Lord would protect him.  Abraham needed protection from the retaliation of the powerful nations he had defeated. But with God as his “shield,” he had the best protection of all. That had to be a great encouragement to Abraham, for he was in the land of Canaan surrounded by the enemies. God alone can shield the believer throughout life. This is the promise of His Word. It was the promise to Abram, and it is the promise to us.

God promises to shield the believer from his enemies. “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior” (2 Sam. 22:2-3).

God promises to shield the believer against Satan. The Bible tells us that our adversary, the Devil, “walks about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). But it also speaks of deliverance: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

God is our shield against temptation. Paul writes, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Cor. 10:13).

“Your exceedingly great reward.” (God Himself is the believer’s reward).
Abraham had turned down the rewards of victory from the evil king of Sodom (Genesis 14:21-24). To have accepted the reward of the pagan king of Sodom would have been compromising with evil. It would have dishonored God as Abraham claimed his blessings were from God but if he accepted Sodom’s rewards, he would have had to say that evil was one of the sources of his blessings. Doing right does have its rewards, and they are the best rewards of all. Seek God’s rewards above all other rewards.

Abraham didn’t need to regret losing the wealth offered him by the king of Sodom because God would reward him in far greater ways. This is the Old Testament equivalent of Matthew 6:33 and Philippians 4:19. “Yes, Abraham you came home empty-handed materially, but I am your reward.” In this, what every person ultimately desires is not something from the Lord, but simply more of the Lord. Jesus declared, “I am the Way” (John 14:6). “I am the Bread” (John 6:35). “I am the truth” (John 14:6). God is our exceedingly great reward.

Application
“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” (Hebrews 11:8-10).

Abraham gave up much to the king of Sodom (Genesis 14:21-24), but he gained blessings of God. Knowing what later happened to Sodom, Abraham was the big gainer, not Sodom’s king.

God is the only One who can offer you protection and provision and keep His promises. “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Ps. 84:11).

“Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith” (Genesis 15:6). This is the central statement about Abram’s saving faith. This statement is quoted three times in the New Testament (Rom 4:3; Gal 3:6; Jas 2:23) as the foundational passage for the doctrine of justification by faith. Righteousness was credited to him for faith alone, and not for works.  Are you shielded as Abram was? Is God your shield? Do you trust him?

Let’s pray together
Heavenly Father, Thank you for your word. You encourages those who are discouraged. Thank you for the promise that You are our shield and our exceedingly great reward. We refuse to fear. In Jesus Name Amen.