Beautiful People, 

The story of Abraham is a beautiful depiction of faith. His story starts in Genesis 11. As God enters Abraham’s narrative, His covenantal promise is riddled with blessings, prestige, and honor. After years of waiting and various escapades, God reassures Abraham to “[not] fear, for I am your shield; your great reward” (Genesis 15:1, AMP). But Abraham protests and asks, “Lord God, what reward will You give me, since I am childless?” I am glad that this dialogue was included in Scripture because it points to the friction we feel when God’s promises meet the reality of our needs. Abraham eagerly waited for the fulfillment of God’s promise—the fulfillment of a son; however, I think Abraham, just like us, missed the point of Genesis 15:1. If you reread the passage, God shows up and says, “Abraham, I am your great reward.” Often, in my spiritual walks, I add the word, but. God presents Himself as the ultimate reward, the ultimate prize; however, I still yearn for things outside of God, forgetting that the Giver is better than the gift. In many ways, we are all praying for an “Isaac,” which means we all have profound wants and needs that ask of God.

There is nothing wrong with asking for these things; however, these needs and desires should not overshadow the fact that we have the greatest reward, God Himself. When we begin to cherish the Giver more than gifts, it radically changes our response to the stewardship of the gift. Instead of letting the gift become our god or idol, we see the gift as an extension of the Giver. With that said, when the gift is taken away, the loss of that gift now swallows our hope because we still have the Giver. I believe God was trying to show Abraham that even if I don’t give you a son, you have the greatest gift in creation, a personal and intimate relationship with Me. Now, we know the rest of the story: Isaac is born, and God’s promise is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus—the blessing of all nations.
In your walk with Christ today, thank Him for your blessings and remember never to allow your blessings to overshadow the fact that you have the greatest reward, the greatest blessing, Jesus. 

If Jesus is your great reward, the disappointments and unmet expectations of this life will begin to lose their power on your soul.