20 The Great Reward

God told Abraham, "I am your shield." He also told Him, "I am thy exceedingly great reward." This promise includes both spiritual and material blessings. Abraham was not only blessed spiritually by his relationship with God and through his ministry to the nations but he was also blessed materially. He possessed great wealth, as did his immediate heirs, Isaac and Jacob. God blessed Abraham materially because He knew that Abraham would use his wealth wisely for the extension of God's purposes. He knew that he would honor God with the tithe of his increase (Genesis 14:18-20).