My personal relationship with the Lord is the greatest reward I receive in my lifetime. Thus, it’s my life’s ultimate reward.
After a great victory, God told Abraham to not be fearful but to recognize Him as life’s ultimate reward. Genesis 15.1 paraphrase
The Precept Explained
Genesis 15.1 marks a change point in the life of Abraham.
He is somewhere between the ages of 75, see Genesis 12.4, and 99, see Genesis 17.1. That’s out of a 175-year lifetime, see Genesis 25.7.
Abraham is at the midpoint of his life when this conversation occurs in Genesis 15.1. We are witnessing a mid-life crisis here!
Multiplication at Work
In Genesis Chapters 12, 13, and 14 we read how Abraham stepped out in faith.
As a result, received a promise of God’s multiplication of his descendants. Also, he began to accumulate significant wealth. Also, he was successful in a military campaign. Then, he expressed reverence to God face to face.
Life was good!
Therefore, we see the multiplication principle at work here in the life of Abraham. We also see sow-reap.
Abraham sowed obedience and reaped dramatic growth in his spiritual, professional, and personal life.
Direct Revelation
In Genesis 15.1 God tells Abraham that He – God is an “exceeding (Hebrew meod) great (rabah) reward (sakar)” as well as a protection, a shield.
The word for reward is most often translated “hire” meaning wages or a payment for service. For some examples, see Genesis 30.28, 2 Chronicles 24.12, and Ecclesiastes 4.9.
Two are better than one – they receive a good payment for their hard work. Ecclesiastes 4.9 paraphrase
The payment I receive back from the Lord is excessively abundant. This promise is sow-reap to the extreme!
What could possible go wrong?
Fear of What?
My entry point into this abundance is a lack of fear. Fear of what? The short answer is that the fear point is not specified in Genesis 15.1 but this instruction comes to someone who by mid-life had already experienced life success.
Abraham wasn’t a late bloomer! He was fearful!
The conversation that follows suggests that Abraham was concerned about how God was going to deliver on the promise He had made back in Genesis 12.1-3. Years later there would be another of these inflection-point conversations (see Genesis 17.1 and following) before this issue was settled.
Leadership Insight
A person of faith can face personal and organizational leadership challenges without fear or dread because of the spiritual insight that is available through God’s presence, protection, and leading in the life of that leader.
God tells me – Don’t be driven by fear!
Apply This Today!
A precept-driven life that partners with the Lord will receive numerous spiritual insights.
Choose to be goal driven and growth oriented!
A precept-driven life knows wisdom. It will witness significant blessing for choosing intentional growth as a goal, especially when combined with trust. In fact, Solomon’s life goal was “to know wisdom” as explained in Proverbs 1.2.
Regardless of where I am right now professionally and personally, and despite the level of accomplishment I’ve already achieved, I carry the potential for significant, additional growth!
Spiritual growth is life’s ultimate reward!
What do you think? Send me a comment: larrydaleyoung@gmail.com