GENESIS 15

Genesis 15 begins with the word of the Lord coming to Abram, and the first thing God says is, "Do not be afraid."

If there was a way to sum up in one, short sentence the overarching message of God to humankind in the Bible, it would have to be this: Do not be afraid. It appears over and over and over again in the Scriptures. It is often, quite literally, the first thing out of the mouth of God or His heavenly messengers when they encounter human beings.

And why should we not fear? God gives us the answer in this chapter, linking His peace with two specific things: His protection and His provision.

First, He says, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield." In other words, with God on our side, what do we have to fear in this world? Nothing can come between us and God. Nothing can pluck us out of His hands. As we remain with Him, He protects us from all lasting harm, and He will gather us all to Himself on that glorious day when Jesus returns.

Second, He says, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your very great reward." In other words, with such a giving God, what do we lack? Nothing! As David said in Psalm 23, with a shepherd like God, we don’t lack anything. God takes care of all our needs (and most of our wants, too). He is generous and faithful, providing whatever we require.

God came to banish our fear and replace it with His peace. So, if you’re anxious about anything today, His message to you is the same as His message to Abram in Genesis 15: Do not be afraid. I am your shield. I am your reward. Whatever this day holds, I promise to protect you and provide for you!