God Makes (and Keeps) Promises

Genesis 15:1-6 HCSB After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward will be very great. (2) But Abram said, "Lord GOD, what can You give me, since I am childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" (3) Abram continued, "Look, You have given me no offspring, so a slave born in my house will be my heir." (4) Now the word of the LORD came to him: "This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body will be your heir." (5) He took him outside and said, "Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them." Then He said to him, "Your offspring will be that numerous." (6) Abram believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness.

There is a theological term I’d like to introduce to you today. We dealt with it to a certain extent in our discussion of “Mysterious Melchizedek” but I would like to ensure that you understand it well because I consider it to be critical to our understanding of many key biblical passages. The term is “theophany.” A theophany is a visible manifestation of God which is usually (but not always) restricted to the Old Testament. A more specific term is “Christophany.” A theophany is any visible appearance of God (think burning bush or shekina glory). A Christophany has lexical evidence that makes us believe it is specifically the preincarnate Son of God.

God has appeared:

· in dreams (Genesis 20:3-7; 28:12-17),

· visions (Genesis 15:1-21; Isaiah 6:1-13),

· as an angel (Gen. 16:7-13; 18:1-33), etc.

· as the Angel of the Lord (Judges 6:20 ff; Genesis 16:7-9; 18:1-2; Exodus 3:2-6; Joshua 5:14; Judges 2:1-5; 6:11)

Seeing the Father or the Spirit or the Trinity as a whole is impossible according to the following passages:

· Exodus 33:20 HCSB But He answered, "You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live."

· 1 Timothy 1:17 HCSB Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

· 1 Timothy 6:16 HCSB the only One who has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom none of mankind has seen or can see, to whom be honor and eternal might. Amen.

· Hebrews 11:27 HCSB By faith he left Egypt behind, not being afraid of the king's anger, for he persevered, as one who sees Him who is invisible.

· 1 John 4:12 HCSB No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us and His love is perfected in us.

Consider what Jesus said about the Father:

· John 1:18 HCSB No one has ever seen God. The One and Only Son--the One who is at the Father's side--He has revealed Him.

Now consider the description Jesus gave of the nature of the Spirit.

· Luke 24:39 HCSB Look at My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself! Touch Me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have."

· John 3:6-8 HCSB Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. (8) The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don't know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

God the Father and God the Spirit are both, by their spiritual nature, invisible to fleshly eyes. They are Spirits, not having flesh or bones. It was necessary, therefore, that one of the Trinity take on a form that we humans could perceive so that we could grasp something of Elohim’s nature, purpose, and requirements. The Trinity elected Jesus to take that role.

· Philippians 2:6-7 HCSB who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. (7) Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form,

This was not done when He was conceived in Mary’s womb for, as Jesus Himself said:

· John 8:58 HCSB Jesus said to them, "I assure you: Before Abraham was, I am."

I believe it was concerning that primary, essential moment in time that the Psalmist was referring when he said,

· Psalms 2:7 HCSB I will declare the LORD's decree: He said to Me, "You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.

Jesus is referred to as the “only begotten Son”. All the rest of us have been adopted. Only Jesus is fully God/fully human. He sacrificed many of His divine attributes so that we could know Triune God.

· John 1:18 HCSB No one has ever seen God. The One and Only Son--the One who is at the Father's side--He has revealed Him.

· Colossians 1:15 HCSB He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation;

“No one has seen God the Father at any time;” therefore, every time someone saw God in the Old Covenant, it was the immanent Son they were seeing. We usually determine that an appearance is Jesus by the following:

Identifying Characteristics of a Theophany

· The person accepts or demands worship and yet is good.

· The person accepts or demands sacrifice and yet is good.

· The person is directly identified as God.

· The person accepts or claims a name of God.

For instance, such characteristics as having the name of God, being worshiped, and being recognized as God has led many scholars to conclude that the Angel of the Lord is really Jesus manifested in the Old Covenant. This does not mean that Jesus is an angel. The word "angel" simply means messenger. And Jesus was definitely comfortable with the role of being the Father’s messenger for He said:

· John 8:38 HCSB I speak what I have seen in the presence of the Father, and therefore you do what you have heard from your father."

Other scriptures that describe more vivid manifestations of God are Genesis 17:1; 18:1; Exodus 6:2-3; 24:9-11; Numbers 12:6-8.

Usually theophanies usually involve a fearful response.

· Genesis 21:17 HCSB God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What's wrong, Hagar? Don't be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the boy from the place where he is.

· Genesis 28:17 HCSB He was afraid and said, "What an awesome place this is! This is none other than the house of God. This is the gate of heaven."

· Exodus 3:6 HCSB Then He continued, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.

· Exodus 20:18 HCSB All the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain surrounded by smoke. When the people saw it they trembled and stood at a distance.

· Isaiah 6:5 HCSB Then I said: Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.

Now let’s return to today’s passage and look at:

· Genesis 15:12 HCSB As the sun was setting, a deep sleep fell on Abram, and suddenly a terror and great darkness descended on him.

The oblique reference to ʾêmâ, “dreadful darkness” or “terrifying darkness” may reflect this common fear response. Compare that to the nôrāʾ, “dreadful place” found in:

· Genesis 28:17 HCSB He was afraid and said, "What an awesome place this is! This is none other than the house of God. This is the gate of heaven."

Because Abram feared God’s holiness and power, he (like many other godly men and women) got to hear words of comfort and consolation from the Lord.

· To Hagar. Genesis 21:17 HCSB God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What's wrong, Hagar? Don't be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the boy from the place where he is.

· To Isaac. Genesis 26:24 HCSB and the LORD appeared to him that night and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your offspring because of My servant Abraham."

· To Jacob. Genesis 46:3 HCSB God said, "I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there.

· To Isaiah. Isaiah 6:7 HCSB He touched my mouth with it and said: Now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed, and your sin is atoned for.

· To Joseph. Matthew 1:20 HCSB But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit.

· To Zechariah. Luke 1:13 HCSB But the angel said to him: Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.

· To Mary. Luke 1:30 HCSB Then the angel told her: Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

· To the shepherds. Luke 2:10 HCSB But the angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:

· To Paul. Acts 18:9 HCSB Then the Lord said to Paul in a night vision, "Don't be afraid, but keep on speaking and don't be silent.

The combination of “do not be afraid” and “I am your shield” (Genesis 15:1) is another common biblical theme.

· Genesis 26:24 HCSB and the LORD appeared to him that night and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your offspring because of My servant Abraham."

· Isaiah 41:10 HCSB Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.

· Psalms 23:4 HCSB Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff--they comfort me.

In Hebrew, the second half of verse one literally reads. “Abraham, don’t fear. I am your shield; your very great reward.” The future tense that many translators include is a presumption because the tense isn’t expressly present in the text. I believe that it was because the Lord was identifying Himself, rather than alluding to a future event. The Lord identified Himself as “your shield” and “your very great reward.”

Now, “reward” (śākār) denotes a laborer’s or servant’s wages:

· Genesis 30:28 HCSB Then Laban said, "Name your wages, and I will pay them."

· Genesis 30:32-33 HCSB Let me go through all your sheep today and remove every sheep that is speckled or spotted, every dark-colored sheep among the lambs, and the spotted and speckled among the female goats. Such will be my wages. (33) In the future when you come to check on my wages, my honesty will testify for me. If I have any female goats that are not speckled or spotted, or any lambs that are not black, they will be considered stolen."

· Deuteronomy 15:18 HCSB Do not regard it as a hardship when you set him free, because he worked for you six years--worth twice the wages of a hired hand. Then the LORD your God will bless you in everything you do.

It may, at times, figuratively refer to a reward for faithfulness.

· Numbers 18:31 HCSB then you and your household may eat it anywhere. It is your wage in return for your work at the tent of meeting.

· Jeremiah 31:16 HCSB This is what the LORD says: Keep your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for the reward for your work will come--this is the LORD's declaration--and your children will return from the enemy's land.

It may also refer to a victor’s spoils.

· Isaiah 40:10 HCSB See, the Lord GOD comes with strength, and His power establishes His rule. His reward is with Him, and His gifts accompany Him.

· Isaiah 62:11 HCSB Look, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth, "Say to Daughter Zion: Look, your salvation is coming, His reward is with Him, and His recompense is before Him."

For instance, let’s compare this concept to John’s Revelation:

· Revelation 2:7 HCSB "Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the victor the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

· Revelation 2:11 HCSB "Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The victor will never be harmed by the second death.

· Revelation 2:17 HCSB "Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the victor some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name is inscribed that no one knows except the one who receives it.

· Revelation 2:26 HCSB The victor and the one who keeps My works to the end: I will give him authority over the nations--

· Revelation 3:12 HCSB The victor: I will make him a pillar in the sanctuary of My God, and he will never go out again. I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God--the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God--and My new name.

All of these rewards come directly to those who possess the Son! It is just as the Lord promised in:

· Ephesians 4:7-12 HCSB Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of the Messiah's gift. (8) For it says: When He ascended on high, He took prisoners into captivity; He gave gifts to people. (9) But what does "He ascended" mean except that He descended to the lower parts of the earth? (10) The One who descended is the same as the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things. (11) And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, (12) for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,

It’s as the Psalmist said,

· Psalms 37:4 HCSB Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you your heart's desires.

If you make the Lord the desire of your heart, He will give you the desire of your heart – Himself!

Abram had spurned the worldly booty that the king of Sodom had proffered, preferring to rest his faith in the Lord alone. However, the Lord confirmed that what Abram had entrusted to Him would indeed be rewarded.

Abram’s reward was not paid to him as compensation for his heroic rescue, else he would have received payment from the kings. No – Abram was being rewarded for looking ahead to the gifts of descendents and land that he would receive from Yahweh Yireh’s hand.

· Psalms 127:3 HCSB Sons are indeed a heritage from the LORD, children, a reward.

· Hebrews 11:8-10 HCSB By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went out to a place he was going to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was going. (9) By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, co-heirs of the same promise. (10) For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

If we will, like our father Abraham, patiently do what is right, obeying Hashem’s mitzvoth and humbly submitting to His will in all things, we will get a double blessing. We will, from time to time, experience the thrill of seeing God omnipotent at work, and now and again, will hear Him speak words of comfort to us. Rest assured, when the Lord makes a promise – He is able to accomplish it.

· Acts 20:32 HCSB "And now I commit you to God and to the message of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.

Examples of Christophanies:

· God walking in Gan Eden (Genesis 3:21) Not only was He walking but He also sacrificed animals, indicating a physical presence.

· God “coming down” to see the tower of Babel. (Genesis 11:5)

· Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-20; Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 7:3)

· God with Abraham announcing the birth of Isaac.

· God with Abraham “coming to see if Sodom is as bad as he had heard” (Genesis 18:20-21)

· The "Angel of the LORD" with Hagar (Genesis 16:7)

· The Angel of the Lord among the myrtle trees. (Zechariah 1:8-11)

· The “Suffering Servant” (Isaiah 6). Many believe this to be limited to a prophecy. However, John might be alluding to a more personal visitation that Isaiah may have had. (John 12:41)

· The Angel of the Lord wrestling with Jacob (Genesis 32:20). Jacob said it was God and Hosea mentioned an angel (Hosea 12:4).

· The Commander of the Lord’s Hosts. (Joshua 5:13-15) He accepted Joshua's prostrate worship, whereas angels refuse such worship (Revelation 19:9-10). Additionally, He declared the ground to be holy. (Exodus 3:5)

· The fourth man in the fiery furnace. (Daniel 3:25)

· The Angel of the Lord with Manoah (Judges 13:17).

· Post-ascension Christ with Paul on the road to Damascus.

· Post- ascension Christ with Ananias.

· Post- ascension Christ with John. (Revelation 1:12-18)