As well the reassuring protective truth that God is to Abraham as
shield, there also comes the promise of reward. Not only is Abraham kept safe
from harm, but he has promised good. For some reason I remember this verse
reading "I am your shield, you're very great reward" (which it does
in the NIV), but in the ESV, its "I am your shield, your reward shall
be very great." So which is it?
Well, I can't read Hebrew and the commentators seem to favour the
ESV version so I will run with that. Actually, one leads to the other. What is
a "very great reward"? Every time you read a passage in the Old
Testament it's good to turn the contrast up until you see Jesus. The greatest
reward that God can give us is himself in the person of his son. All other
promises are fulfilled in Jesus.
The New Testament says we have every spiritual blessing in Christ
and so here in God's mind at least is none other than his beloved son. But
Abram probably isn't seeing quite that far ahead. His most felt need is for a
son and without a son nothing God could give him would have much value to him.
It would simply be passed on to a relative stranger. Little did he know that
God was looking to give his own son through a son he would give Abram and that
through him Abram's decedents would be as numerous as the stars in the sky.
At first Abram's need seems very great, but God's provision is
totally overwhelming. Not only will Abram get a son but innumerable decedents.
The value of this gift is the life of God's own son and in him God's son Abram
will have countless spiritual offspring. The great reward is indeed God
himself. No wonder Paul says:
Now
to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think,
according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in
Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
(ESV) Eph 3:20-21
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