Don’t Be Afraid
Read This Week: Genesis 15
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.” Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your flesh and blood will be your heir.” Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. – Genesis 15:1-6 NIV
So far in Genesis, we have seen the word of God come to people in a few different ways. He has appeared in person, spoken audibly, and communicated through angels. Here in chapter 15, as in the past, the Lord comes to Abram in a vision. Interestingly, in this vision, God’s message contains a directive and two elements of reassurance. He tells him not to be afraid and that He was ever present to protect him and be his great reward, that good things were still in store for his life.
The Lord knew Abram’s needs just like he always knows ours. His timing for this message to him was perfect. Abram had just come out of a dangerous and challenging moment where he rescued his nephew from imminent harm and defeated a large army made up of an alliance of four ruthless kings. Anyone in Abram’s situation would be consterned and a bit unnerved. He had every reason to feel fear, as he most likely was expecting retaliation from those he just beat.
He needed a shield, protection, and shelter from various dangers and threats against him. God’s assurance of a protective cover alleviates his fear as it does for us. If God is for us, who can truly be against us? Nothing is a match for the Creator of the universe. God never tells us not to be afraid without giving us a promise or viable reason to dispel our fear. He says, do not be scared. Why? Because I am your protection.
But the Lord doesn’t stop there in his comfort and encouragement. He tells Abram that He is also his great reward, his ultimate blessing and joy. In the last chapter, Abram refused the compensation or bounty the king of Sodom offered him after his military conquest and return of all Sodom’s people and possessions. God told Abram that though he had sacrificed for His sake, he would not miss out on a reward. The Lord would bless and repay his offering exponentially more than anything he could reap from an earthly source.
From this, God makes a covenant with Abraham. He tells him that he will have a son of his own and an heir (v.4), that he will come into possession of more coveted land (v.7), and that his descendants will be innumerable and overcome oppression and challenges to become a great nation (v.14-16). God even tells Abram that he will live a long life and the end will be peaceful and lived among those who love and care for him (v.15). That is quite a reward.
This compelling narrative of God’s covenant with Abram is another reminder of His goodness, love, and grace that He extends toward his children. And out of His sovereignty, charity, and mercy comes the answer to our needs. The Lord always knows how to be and is the ultimate answer to what we require and are looking for in life. When we need protection from harm, danger, or even ourselves, God becomes that for us. When we need shelter or solace from our pain, hurt, and depression, He becomes that for us. When we need reassurance, provision, and joy despite the reality of our circumstances, the Father becomes that for us. God becomes that for us because He is that for us. We can believe the Lord and don’t have to be afraid.
God gave me Genesis 15 verses 1-5
15 After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:
“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield,[a] your very great reward.[b]”
2 But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit[c] my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”
4 Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring[d] be.”
“Talk with Me, trust in Me, love Me as I am only a breath away. When you do these things then you will see you are deeply loved and cared for. Have faith My son. Faith will keep you afloat.”
Whenever in doubt, in trouble, in stress, or any other moment, we can realize, that with every breath we take we are breathing in God. Each breath serving as a reminder that God is here always and when we trust Him fully then we can reach unending joy.
Genesis Chapter 15 Verse 17
When the sun had gone down and a [thick] darkness had come on, behold, a smoking oven and a flaming torch pass between those pieces.
Genesis Chapter 15 Verse 18
On the same day, the Lord made a covenant (promise, pledge) with Abram, saying To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the Great River Euphrates—the bland of
~The Covenant Of Abram~
God Is Saying To Me:
In your darkest moments, I God, am your covenant. I have given you my Son, Jesus Christ as the only pledge of eternal salvation. His body, His blood and His sacrifice completes Abram’s covenant. The smoking pot represents me and my promises given to you through Abram’s descendants. The flaming torch represents Jesus Christ and the sacrifice of Jesus’ blood as the atonement and the hope of future relationships of Israel. The passing between sacrificed animals represents a sacred covenant promise binding by me and only me and my oath to the future descendants of Abram as well. My will and my love for all solidifies future agreements of faith by my children for eternal generations to come.
What This Means To Me:
God’s promises to us are solidified by sacrifice. When God makes an oath or commitment to us, He always is fateful and delivers the promises in His timing and through His will for us. When darkness comes, know that Jesus Christ is the light in the darkness and continued faith in Him to glorify Father God brings peace and answers. Give everything we do and encounter to God because He is always faithful. We must do our part by laying our desires and concerns at his feet so that He can consecrate and purify our request. Thank you God that you are always faithful, never causing fear, working on our behalf and setting right our wrongs. We can always depend on you! ❤️❤️❤️
This week I got a song in Genesis chapter 15
Promises
We are blessed, blessed, blessed because of our Lord’s promises. Yes our Lord’s promises, our Lord is faithful He only wants the best for you and me. He gives us strength when we are weak he gives us peace in the middle of chaos. He’s our comfort, when we feel lonely he heals the brokenhearted what an amazing God we have he forgives the guilty restores our hearts our Lord keeps his promises. Yes, our Lord keeps his promises so let’s come together praising our Lord, singing, glory, glory. We are thankful for you. Yes, we are thankful for you, our Lord
Amen
Let’s try to always be mindful, listen, obey respond to our Lord because he only wants us to grow in our faith with him thank you Lord for always being there.
This Week in the Life: Genesis 15
For the best experience, we suggest you listen to the first song, the message, and the second song.
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2. Sunday Message: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/20231022-Message.wav
3. Sunday Worship – Second Song: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/20231022-Worship2.wav
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This is what I got from God in Genesis 15. I know how to become the answer to your needs. When you need a shield or a reward, I will become those things for you. I know what your needs are, even before you do. I am the reward of My faithful people. Since I am your reward, you can really take joy in Me. I don’t want you to seek joy from material things. I want you to exalt Me. I gave Abram a reason to put away his fear. I will not tell you “do not be afraid” without giving you a reason to put away your fear. Trust Me as I am with you through everything. In asking Me for an offspring, Abram showed bold honesty before Me. This is a wonderful example of prayer. I want you to come to Me in this same way with boldness and honesty. Abram wanted to believe and he looked to Me, to strengthen his faith. You need reminders of My promises for you. You do need faith and patience to inherit My promises. There are 2 types of righteousness, righteousness you accomplish by your own efforts, and righteousness accounted to you by My work, when you believe. Believe in Me and believe in My Son, Jesus Christ. This is the perfect example in the Bible, of the truth of salvation by grace, through faith. Abram did not waiver at My promise through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, and gave the glory to Me, and being fully convinced that what I had promised, I was able to perform. The faith that made Abram righteous, wasn’t so much believing in Me, as it was believing Me. As humans Christians sometime say they believe, when they hear me say it, then later say I’m not sure-please prove it to me. Trust Me and don’t doubt Me.
What this said to me was God wants me not to just believe in Him, He wants me to Believe Him. H has promised me things that did happen. He wants us to come to Him, in boldness and honesty. He will strengthen my belief in Him. The more time I spend with Him, the stronger the relationship grows. I need to trust Him, and not be fearful. He is with me through anything I go through.
Genesis 15:1 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 reward [for obedience] shall be very great.”
God’s promises
We’re so blessed to see Father God talking to Abram and Abram talking to Father God
This is a great example for us to know we can talk to Father God and we can hear Him, but you have to know that you can, take time to listen and write down what you hear Him saying to you
He has wonderful things to share with you, he has promises for you, all you have to do is ask Him.
God promises He will never leave us so you can count on that even in the midst of what’s going on, all you have to do is ask Him to help you through it!
God was saying to me
You don’t have to be afraid of anything because I am with you, there is always going to be troubles and circumstances going on, in the midst of what is going on you can always trust in me to know that I am with you to help you, because I love you.
Thank you, father God that I don’t have to be afraid and I know that I can always count on you to help me through everything I go through. Thank you for all the beautiful promises you have for me because You love me. I love you Father God,Jesus and Your Holy Spirit ❤️️