“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.” Genesis 15:1 NKJV
Waiting for the Fulfillment of the Promise
In Genesis 15, God promised Abraham an heir to his household that would be born of his own body (vs. 4). In every retelling of the story I have heard, what has been emphasized to me is how important and honorable it was in Biblical times to have someone of your own blood to carry the family name. I believe it is still imperative in some cultures. Abraham had an heir, but his problem was that God was promising that He would be His exceedingly great reward (vs. 1)…but without an heir from his bloodline? After God’s promise and declaration, Abraham lamented. It could not be that the Lord was promising such a thing when something so important to Abraham was looming over them. At least, that’s what his response makes me think, because I have responded to God similarly.
The One True Treasure
There are many times that I have deeply desired something more than I desired fellowship with the Lord. Sometimes, it’s driven by desperation and/or need for either something I have determined is necessary, or something that is actually necessary, like financial security or good health. More often than not, the Lord has drawn me back to Him, and in every instance – even when I haven’t needed something – He has been a firm foundation, Father, and Friend. There is no time I can mention that the fruit of remaining in Him has not been borne. And He is consistent: He offered Himself to Abraham to quell His fear as the reward before going on to offer him the promise of a blood-related heir. The Lord is the treasure; He is our reward.
Choosing God Above All Else
I will be the first to admit that it is not an easy thing to believe that it is Him that we should desire above all else. Worshipping that which you cannot see and believing in power beyond you does not sound straightforward, nor completely painless. The Lord is kind enough to give us comforts such as His word, the gift of prayer, and His Holy Spirit, but it is difficult to choose to do so as children of God. I personally enjoy my Christian walk more when there’s less at stake, and it seems easier to declare the Lord’s goodness and stand on His word in such times. But the Lord is worth it regardless of what you see and what you cannot, and He is worth everything even when the outcome does not seem to serve you. This is a fact: the Word asks us to “…seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33 NKJV). The message has never changed, and the testimonies remain: “I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread” (Psalms 37:25 NKJV).
It is my prayer that you can find it in you to be honest with the Lord and take what you desire to Him. I pray that as you take your heart to Him, you find Him. And while I pray that He answers your prayers with a yes, I pray most of all that as you lay it down, your treasure begins and ends with Him, and that your heart remains there also (Matthew 6:19-21). In Jesus’ mighty name, amen.
