Abraham's reward Week 40, 2011

“Abraham’s blessings are mine, Abraham’s blessings are mine! I am blessed in the morning, blessed in the evening ...” So what is this blessing you claim so forcefully? “His reward; the LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, camels and donkeys Gen 24:35(ESV).”
Was that THE reward? Hummer jeeps, fat accounts, houses... “Wait now, read the next verse: And Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master when she was old, and to him he has given all that he has Gen 24:36(ESV). God really rewarded Abraham. What greater blessing than to have children after you who receive the heritage from you?”
That was not the reward God promised. Let’s not see the reward of obedience from the standpoint of things; things gotten from God, and perhaps always in comparison with others. When God promised a reward it was far greater than any thing: 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 Gen 15:1(RV). “I don’t mean to sound disrespectful but this sounds nebulous. What does that translate to in tangible things?” Abraham also wanted tangible things, in fact he said "O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” Gen 15:2(ESV). Here God offers you Himself, saying “I am your reward”, and you say “What will you give me?” I feel years later God now asked “Is it Me or the child?” and was relieved when Abraham emphatically said “It’s you Lord”. So God now knew Abraham fears God Gen 22:1-12. Unbelievers and sinners can and do have flocks, money, and children after them Mt5:45, but only the righteous have the LORD as their portion. The LORD is my inheritance and my cup. Ps 16:5(GW). Don’t reduce God’s reward to mere things.
“Can one really blame Abraham? We live in a tangible world...” My dear if you have a husband all he has is yours too. Because God was Abraham’s portion his tangible inheritance is the world. “The world?” Yes God promised Abraham and his descendants that he would give them the world Rom 4:13(CEV). So when you claim Abraham’s reward know what you are claiming. “Yes: the whole world!” How slow you are to learn: God Himself. He has given us his promises that are of the highest value. Through these promises you will share in the divine nature because you have escaped the corruption that sinful desires cause in the world.2Pe 1:4(CEV).