“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.” Genesis 15:1
In God’s dealings with Abram, He began by the revelation of Himself. Since Abram did not have the Scriptures, nor was he surrounded by a church, where the testimony of the Spirit could confirm the will and purpose of God, the revelation of God to his own heart was most certainly very clear, powerful, and convincing. The revelation, specifically communicated to Abram by the “word of God,” or God speaking to him, was strong enough to move Abram, to stir him up to the point where he was willing to leave his “country, …kindred, …father’s house, to venture forth “…not knowing where he went,” and not knowing the specific place where he was going. This revelation of Christ to his heart and mind was so clear and convincing, that he would choose, in one sense, to lose all in order to find all in God. Jesus illustrated this reality in two parables, one of which had to do with a “pearl of great price.” He spoke of a merchant, who sought good, or fine pearls. The day came when he found one of “great price,” the beauty and excellence of which exceeded all other pearls combined. The merchant then sold “all that he had and bought it.” In the second parable, the Lord spoke of a field where a man found a treasure. The man hid the treasure, and with great joy went a sold “all that he hath,” and bought the field. In both cases, as with Abram, there was a great discovery of something of such exceeding worth and beauty, that the individuals were willing to lose all, and in the case of Abram, to leave all, to possess the blessing. With respect to Abram, the loss that he embraced, to possess “the land,” that promise of God, did not compare with the spiritual worth of the blessing that the whole world would know as a result of Abram’s obedience. The world in Abram’s day was very small when compared with ours today, but the magnitude of the blessing, specifically as it applied to him, touched all nations unto this day. Not only would a literal land be promised, and given to Abraham, to be possessed by his descendants, but a Seed would come forth from him, who would be the “first born of every creature.” (Colossians 1:15) This Seed was none other than Christ, the Son of God, manifested in the flesh, the sole Savior of men, and the Everlasting King. Certainly, though Abram was a very intelligent and gifted man, he could not have imagined such a coming to earth by the Son of Righteousness, to be rejected of men, crucified on Calvary, rising from the dead, creating the living church of God, his Body, and maintaining the testimony of the truth of God, salvation, sanctification, and the glorious purpose and ways of God until this day. Abram, when in the land of Canaan, saw the horizon when he looked east and west, having a partial glimpse of the blessing. The reality of the blessing in its power and strength went beyond the horizon into eternity. God would do the “exceeding abundantly above all that he could ask or think.” His exceeding reward extended beyond the horizon to Christ.
In the Scriptures we read of the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, becoming Paul the Apostle. There, we discover something of the trials, hardships, and blessings in his great pursuit to know Christ. Though Paul was probably one of the foremost intellectuals of his day, and we see him much like the prophet, Isaiah. Both men had a great vision of God and Christ’s work of salvation. However, even though their perception was great, even being revealed as both men would write and speak of things to come, neither of them could ever have imagined the magnitude of the blessing of God upon their writings, and the effects of that blessing upon countless millions of believers.
Dear Father, Strengthen us by Thy Spirit’s power to know Christ, our exceeding great reward. In Jesus’ name, Amen.