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Genesis 15:1-6
As we continue our journey with Abram, we are now entering Genesis Chapter 15. Verse 1 has always given me assurance when going through struggles in my life: “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” (Genesis 15:1 KJV). Take a moment and just imagine God as “your shield and your exceeding great reward!” He is our protector and our blessing! What more could one possibly ask for?
Now the question is: What does Holy Spirit mean by “After these things in verse 1? Abram, and 300 trained men from his household, had just returned home after pursuing four kings who had taken Lot, his family and all his possessions captive. Abram resting in his tent, now realizes the battle was truly a supernatural power and deliverance from God Almighty. Suddenly fear arises within him, what will become of him and his family now, the people in this country will probably hate them and retaliate! As he sat pondering these thoughts, the Lord God appears to him (Abram) in a vision! Once again, I love this next statement! The Lord God tells Abram “Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward!” What a powerful statement of protection and comfort that God reassures to Abram! Friends, God offers the same powerful statement to all that trust in Jesus as their Savior. Abram’s response is truly amazing! He talks with God, man to man! I can just hear Abram now, “Lord, I hear you and I am thankful because you have blessed me with more than enough, but I have no child of my own to be my heir.” Friends, we can learn much from Abram’s response. He knew God’s character and trusted God enough to talk pour out his troubling his heart with a question, “Lord what will you give me seeing I go childless?” Yes, he was bold in his response, but we too are also instructed in Hebrews 4:16 “to come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
In verses 4 and 5 we read God reaffirming His promise to Abram that he will have a child, one that will come from “his own bowels shall be thine heir.” While still in a vision, the Lord tells Abram to look toward heaven and at the stars because that is how numerous his seed will be.
Verse 6 is a very important scripture – it’s an act of faith! Abram “believed God!” God counted this act of faith as “righteousness to Abram.” In other words, God is saying, “Abram is in “right standing” with Me because of his heart of faith. He BELIEVED GOD! Abram believed God to take him on a journey from his native land; Abram believed in the character and word of God; Abram by building an Altar believed in Jesus; and now we read Abram believing God to give him a son from his own bowels. Abram’s faith was magnified by his boldness. His faith was spiritually focused with him making his decisions based on what is possible for God to do in his life and not man or himself.
Genesis 15:7-21
We now read Abram asking God for a token of this promised child! This was not uncommon request, for in those days for people always sealed a covenant with a token. God All Mighty doesn’t rebuke Abram for his questions, instead He instructs Abram to gather various animals and fowl to place upon the Altar to make a covenant for Abram. When the sun goes down, God allows a deep sleep to fall upon Abram, the Word says “an horror of great darkness fell upon him (Abram).” While in this state, God “cut covenant” with Himself and spoke to Abram revealing to him what would become of his seed in the future:
a) Abram’s seed would be in great slavery for 400 years.
b) God will deliver Abrams seed from that slavery.
c) God will punish the nation that had Abrams seed in bondage.
d) God reveals to Abram he will have a life of peace and die at a “good old age.”
We can learn much can be learned from this chapter such as:
- Fear is torment (1 John 4:18) and God doesn’t want His children living in fear and doubt. Just as He reassured Abram with his fears, He offers the same comfort of peace, love and protection to all His children.
- God speaks to His children, we are to learn his voice and listen for it and to be obedience to His command. Jeremiah 29:13 “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
- God fulfills all His promises, He never goes back on His word. “For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” (2 Corinthians 1:20). It’s our responsible to know the character of God and believe by faith God will do what He promises.
- God doesn’t want His children ignorant of His plans for the future. It is our responsible to knock, seek, and ask! Matthew 7:7 instructs us to “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find, knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”
- Faith is always what God honors. A double-minded man will receive nothing from God! “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord” (James 1:6-7).
Abram experienced a great victory by the hand of God Almighty, then the enemy attacks his mind with fear, but God doesn’t let him stay there. God addresses Abram’s fears immediately with assurance of His protection and love. Abram listened to God’s wisdom and plans for the future and trusted God to direct his steps.
The devil will attack our minds the same way because he doesn’t want us to glorify God life and he wants to destroy our testimonies. Know that God is no respecter of person, whatever He has done for others, He will do for you. What has God called you to do? Trust in Him is the key! So, settle in your mind that He will protect you and provide for you and He will never leave you nor forsake you. Friends, remember Father God is just a prayer call away! “Faith” is the number!
Journey In His Word 