Genesis 15 & 16: Who Is Your Shield?
Verse of the Day: (15:1) 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.
1. Shield (15:1-16:3)
And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. (16:3)
Though God promised Abram that He is a Shield and Reward to him, and that He shall bless him as a father of a great nation, Israel, with many children, yet Abram failed to wait upon God, and instead, he took Hagar, his Egyptian maid, to be his mistress to bear him children. However, God still fulfilled His promise as a Shield and Reward to Abram, as eventually God blessed Abram and Sarai with their firstborn, Isaac, and then with many more children. Indeed, God’s promises never fail, as today, Israel not only exists, but it is a great and powerful nation, though there are still tensions with her neighbours.
2. Sarai (16:4-6)
And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee. (16:5)
Behind every successful man is a woman, and conversely, behind every troubled man is also a woman. Sarai confessed to Abram that she should not have encouraged him to marry Hagar, because Hagar now despised her after she had conceived Abram’s son. Abram must have been very troubled with his two wives arguing with each other all the time. Indeed, let us pray for a godly spouse, so that God shall richly bless our marriage.
3. Son (16:7-16)
And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. (16:11)
Sarai humbled Hagar for despising her, and Hagar was forced to leave Abram with much grief as she was carrying his son, Ishmael. However God sent His angel to comfort and encourage Hagar to return to Abram. Even though it was not God’s command for Abram to marry Hagar, yet God still loved and cared for Hagar. Indeed, we may have failed God many times, like Abram, Sarai and Hagar, yet God still loves and cares for us. However, there is a heavy price to pay for every sin we commit. In the case of Abram, both his descendants from Sarai (the Jews) and Hagar (the Arabs) are still in conflict with each other, and sometimes resulting in wars, even until today. Though God loves us, and forgives our sins, yet we still reap the grave consequences of our sins. (Galatians 6:7).
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You are my Shield and Reward as I fully trust in You.
