“The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, ‘Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever…’ Then the king[s] of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela went out, and they joined battle in the Valley of Siddim with Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal of Goiim, Amraphel of Shinar, and Arioch of Ellasar, four kings against five… The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled… So the enemy took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah… They also took Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way…
“When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men,.. 318 of them, and went in pursuit… and defeated them… Then he brought back all the possessions, and his kinsman Lot.., and the women and the people…
“And the king of Sodom said to Abram, ‘Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.’ But Abram said to the king of Sodom, ‘I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, “I have made Abram rich.”’
“After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: ‘Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your very great reward.'” Genesis 13:14-15; 14:8-12,14-16,21-23; 15:1
“The shields of the earth belong to God;
he is highly exalted!”
“For our shield belongs to the Lord,
our king to the Holy One of Israel.” Psalm 47:9b; 89:18
Abraham had a lot of looking out to do to get to know his God. What was this new land? How would it be his? Having left everything familiar to follow God’s call, Abram faced formidable aggressors who, in battle against each other, captured his nephew. Determined to trust the Lord, he traveled about 100 miles through the land to rescue Lot and the people of Sodom, then refused any compensation from Sodom’s grateful king. The LORD had shielded him in conflict and conquest, and would prove Himself his very great reward in life. God was teaching, and Abram was learning, these truths that would sustain him all his days. The Lord, powerful and victorious, would be faithful to His word. (Hebrews 11:8)
God gives us many promises we do not yet realize but can trust in faith. The time between issuance and fulfillment is intended as a season of growing, trusting, training eyes of faith to see through impossibility to glorious ends. In the meantime, we learn His character and attributes. He is our shield in times of turmoil and difficulty, even doubt. He is our reward of daily intimacy, dependence, strength that come only from above.
In our present sojourn, what priorities is the Lord teaching about true treasure? What land of home, personal spiritual maturity, reconciliation in a relationship, or ministry has He set before us to take? How boldly do we step out in the unknowns, trusting Him as shield against opposition and fear of the unknown? How is He proving Himself our daily soul-satisfying reward? (Matthew 6:19-21, 6:33; Philippians 3:7-8)
Lord, help me walk by faith in every challenge, trusting You as shield and reward.
As the rain and snow 