“After these things the Lord’s message came to Abram in a vision: ‘Fear not, Abram! I am your shield and the one who will reward you in great abundance.’” –Genesis 15:1, NET
Let’s step back from Lot for a minute and rewind the clock. In chapter 14, Lot is swept up in the judgment of the rebellious five cities and taken captive (a preliminary warning from God). Abram hears of this, and with a few hundred men, chase down and defeat a much larger army, rescuing his nephew Lot (Gen 14:1-16). On Abram’s return, the mysterious “Melchizedek king of Salem,… priest of the Most High God,” to whom Abram gives “a tenth of everything,” comes out to greet Abram to perform holy communion (Gen 14:18-20). And then the king of Sodom offers Abram all the spoils. But Abram refuses to take anything, vowing that it is God alone who makes him rich (Gen 14:21-23).
It is here that Abram surely wondered who would do the same for him, especially since he had no other family to help (Gen 12:4). And this is the moment God declares to the faithful Abram, “I am your protector. I am your rewarder.”
There is a wall that God Himself “fortifies” (Psa 51:18) and “raises” (Exo 14:22)—the one around His people. It is the only wall that stands in the end (Rev 21:18), not of brick and stone, but the LORD manifesting Himself as a consuming fire (Zec 2:4-5). “The LORD’s deliverance, like walls and a rampart, makes [His people] secure,” (Isa 26:1). His people—those who love Him, demonstrating this by obeying Him (Joh 14:15), submitting to Him and drawing near Him—are so secure in His walls, that the enemy has no choice but to flee (Jam 4:7-8).
May we seek this wall alone to surround our lives and separate us from all those things hostile to God. May we draw security from this One source, never attempting to build or seek protection within any other fortification.
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” –Isaiah 26:3, ESV
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