THE REASON | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Nov 8, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 45.

THE REASON.

WHY did God say to Abraham the gracious words, "Fear not, Abram; I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward"? Gen. 15:1. It is necessary to go back to the thirteenth chapter for the reason. In that chapter is recorded the strife between the herdsmen of Lot and Abraham, and Abraham's divinely unselfish solution. He to whom all the land was promised, said to Lot, his beneficiary: "Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdsmen and thy herdsmen; for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee from me; if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand then, I will go to the left." We know the sequel. Notwithstanding its wickedness, Lot chose the beautiful plain of Sodom, fertile, "even as the garden of the Lord," was captured in a war which followed, and was rescued without cost by Abraham, who remained in the less fertile heights of the promised land. It was then, and to such a heart, that God gave the gracious assurance: "Fear not, Abram; I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."

"For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, Blessed is the man that trusteth in Thee."