Genesis 15:1-6 - Abraham's Faith is Rewarded, But Not How Many Think

In Genesis 14, Abraham rescued Lot after he was kidnapped by foreign invaders. Again, this all happened because Lot set his sights on earthly things, and allowed the pleasures of this world to lure him away from Abraham, and God's influence, into the unGodly city of Sodom.

Anyway, Abraham returned to the area with the rescued captives and all the goods and valuables stolen by the enemy raiders. The king of Sodom offered to reward Abraham by giving him all the goods and valuables he repossessed from the invading army, but Abraham refused, wanting God to get the glory for Abraham's prosperity, not the king of Sodom.

It is on this occasion that the conversation between God and Abraham took place in Genesis 15. God told Abraham that He was his shield and reward. Verse 1 says "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."

God had made many promises to Abraham. He had promised the land of Canaan as an inheritance... and not only the land of Canaan, but just about the entire fertile crescent. God promised Abraham a son, a seed, through whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed. He also promised that Abraham would be the father of many nations.

However, Abraham's reward was not all those things God promised. Abraham's reward was God Himself.

The LORD said "I am thy shield." God was Abraham's protection, and God fought Abraham's battles for him. How is it that Abram took 318 of his trained servants, and defeated a foreign military power? God must have been fighting his battle for him.

God also said, "(I am) thy exceeding great reward." All the stuff God promised to Abraham was not Abraham's reward for faith. Those things promised were things with which God would bless Abraham, which would be used to fulfill God's plans. The land would become home to the nation of Israel. The son would father Jacob, who would go on to become known as "Israel." Israelites, also referred to as the children of Israel, are descendents of Jacob. One of those descendents would be the seed through Whom the nations of the earth would be blessed. That Seed is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Abraham's reward was the LORD... having the Lord defend him, provide for him, and having an eternal relationship with the LORD. Abraham had faith in the LORD, and having the LORD as his reward was his heart's desire.

Hebrews 11:10 says "For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." Abraham was not as interested in the earthly blessings God promised as much as he was interested in the eternal blessings... entering that city to be with God... and entering into God's kingdom. Hebrews 11:16 backs this up by saying Abraham and Sarah "Desire a better country, that is, an heavenly, wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He hath prepared for them a city."

Notice how this is in stark contrast to Lot's values in life. Lot looked at the plain of Jordan and decided it was a place he could prosper. He looked at the wicked city of Sodom, and saw a place he could rise in prestige. He was looking at earthly things. Abraham, on the other hand, is fired up about heavenly things. He trusts God, and looks forward to the day he enters God's city.

God's people should get excited about having the Lord as their reward, and quit being so distracted by the things of this world. Preaching faith for prosperity is a multi-million dollar business, with many people paying money to prove they have the faith it takes for God to bless them on this earth. God never intented to reward His people in this life. The blessings of this life are temporary.

The rewards God offers His people are eternal. His reward is eternity with Him in His Kingdom. The golden streets and pearly gates of Heaven aren't even the point. The point is that one day, we'll sit at the table and commune with our Lord. Our relationship with Him will be like Adam's relationship with Him in Genesis 2, before man sinned. The sad truth about spirituality in America today is that it is next to impossible to get people fired up about this fact. You can motivate people with promises of earthly riches. You can motivate people with promises of golden mansions in Heaven. But motivating people with promises of sitting down and talking with Jesus is increasingly difficult as our culture grows more secular.

After God defines Abraham's reward and makes more promises concerning Abraham's son, Abraham defined faith by believing God.

In Genesis 15, Abraham was an old man. He was beyond the age when men fathered children, and he was beyond child-rearing years. His wife, Sarah, was beyond child-bearing years. Even in her prime years, Sarah was unable to have children. Yet, the LORD promised Abraham a son.

Verse 4 says "And behold, the word of the LORD came unto him saying, This shall not be thine heir, but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir." Here, God is promising the impossible, but Abraham believes God.

Verse 6 says "And he believed in the LORD, and He counted it unto him for righteousness." Verse 6 was used in Romans 4 to prove salvation by grace through faith apart from works... and the Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, rightly applied that verse. What is important to remember is that verse 6 describes Abraham's faith in the context of being promised the impossible. God promised something impossible, and Abraham believed Him. Abraham trusted Him. God was pleased with Abraham's faith.

Having faith means trusting God. Trusting God means taking Him at His word. Do you take God at His word? Do you believe His plan of salvation by grace through faith apart from works because Christ died on the cross for your sin? Do you trust Him to save you? Do you trust His word for child-rearing? Marriage? and the principle of sowing and reaping?

The Bible is not an archaic book of a dead religion that is no longer relevant. It is God's word, and its truth still holds up in modern society. Do you trust the Bible? Do you trust God's word?

In Genesis 15, God promises Abraham the impossible, and Abraham believes Him. In Luke 1, God promises a priest by the name of Zacharias the impossible, the birth of a son named "John the Baptist." Zacharias didn't believe, and was disciplined. Who would you rather be? Abraham? Or Zacharias?

Take God at His word. Believe the Bible. May God bless you and guide you on your journey of life.

Genesis 13-14, 18-19: Lot's Downfall

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit the great state of California.Whether you like beaches, farmlands, mountains or forests, California has something for you. During my week-long stay in California, I crossed the Mojave Desert, visited the giant sequoia trees in the Sequoia National Park, enjoyed California's picturesque beaches at Monterrey Bay, bought fruit and cheese from family farms in the San Joaquin Valley, and took in the sights along Highway 101. Travelling through California showed me why people would want to live there, in spite of the state's high cost of living and tax rates.

If I were to drop what I am doing here, and move to California, I would be stepping out of God's will for my life, as I know His will is for me to minister here in Brownwood, Texas. The results of such a move would be disastrous. So, I remain committed to my life and church family here in Brownwood.

For Lot, however, the lure of the Jordan river plain and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were too much to resist. In Genesis 13, Lot finds himself in conflict with his uncle, Abraham, because their herdsmen could not get along. The herdsmen were at odds with each other because Lot and Abraham had gained so much livestock that the land could no longer bear both herds. So, Abraham suggested they part ways.

In Genesis 13:9, Abraham says "Is not the whole land before thee? Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: If thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right. or if thou depart to the right hand, I will go to the left."

When Abraham suggested that he and Lot separate, he wasn't thinking of the plain of Jordan. Think about it, would Abraham, a man of God, seriously consider living in a place like Sodom? And would he suggest that Lot move to Sodom? Highly unlikely. Abraham was likely suggesting that Lot go north or south, and then Abraham would travel the opposite direction.

Lot had other ideas, however. Genesis 13:10-11 says "Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan."

Lot looked down on Jordan's plain, and saw a wonderland of fertile land, well watered, that would easily support and prosper his livestock, and I suspect the cities excited him, too. So, he moved to the plain of Jordan, lived in the city of Sodom, and began to blend in.

That decision cost Lot dearly. He wound up being kidnapped by enemy troops, only to be rescued by Abraham. The raid in which Lot was kidnapped was limited to Sodom and Gomorrah. Had Lot not been living there, he would not have become a victim. He would up losing everything when God executed his wrath on Sodom and Gomorrah... he lost his wife, self-respect, and wound up being homeless.

There are lessons to be learned from Lot's downfall. The first is not to let conflicts go unresolved. Had the conflict between Lot's herdsmen and Abraham's herdsmen been resolved sooner, Lot and Abraham might not have had to split up. Prolonged conflict always leads to broken relationships.

The second lesson we learn is that the desire for earthly pleasures leads to destruction. Lot looked down on the plain of Jordan and the city of Sodom, and he liked what he saw. He saw fast riches, and a city where people were living it up, and were uninhibited. But, the Bible says Sodom was a wicked city. Often, Christians are attracted to the wrong things. We can be attracted to earthly wealth, living the high life, and pursuing personal pleasures. When Christians give in to personal pleasure, and turn their back on God, destruction follows.

The third lesson is what the destruction of a Christian life looks like. Motivated by his own selfish desires, Lot moved to Sodom, where he was kidnapped, lost everything, including his home and wife, and saw his witness ruined. Lot's legacy in scripture is not a good one.

If you leave God's will, not only will you see destruction in your life, you will also see your witness ruined as well.

So, let's put this into practice. Don't be ruled by greed, trust God for who He is, and look forward to His Kingdom. Don't be distracted by the temporary things of this world. Maintain a strong relationship with God.