After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:
"Do not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield,
your very great reward."
If you see how this verse starts, It says "After this"...
So what happened before??
We see in Genesis 14:21-24
21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself."
22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, 'I made Abram rich.' 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share."
Abram was presented with a very TEMPTING offer but he remembered his oath to the Lord...and that he dint want anyone else to take glory for making him rich!! He wanted God to have the glory.....Wanting to depend on God totally.
These days we sometimes saying I depend on God as if that's our last resort!!
Here Abram chose to Depend on God no matter what Whether in Good or Bad!!
We usually resort to God in worst case scenarios only....only when things are out of our control...but if they ..we don't care!!
But Abram dint!
Because of this faithfulness shown by Abram, God personally came and you can see in
Gen 15:5
He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be."
And he promised him a great promise.
So to the Level of faithfulness shown is directly proporional to a blessed abundant life.
Faithfulness Shown-------Yes---Greater abundant life..A set of new opportunities
|---No----Less abundant life tan you were supposed to have
if said yes.
Abram had no idea when he was saying No to such a great treasure..(it was the treasure left after defeating 4 kings...well that would have been definitely HUGE!!) that God will promise him a treasure of his children who would never cease to exist!
So friends lets us stop thinking about What God will do for me today!!
But instead lets think in a different way...Think about What can you give as ur gift for the Lord today.....Tell God ...Speak Lord Your Servant is Listening!!
And he will show what needs to be done...He does speak!!
For he said...Call unto me and I Will answer You. Jeremiah 33:3
And our God is not a liar!! So lets not devil fool us into making God a liar!!
When We don't believe his word...that means we are actually saying that God is a liar!
So lets hold onto the promises God gave us in his word!!
May You all be blessed with the understanding of his everlasting Love!! Amen
