Have you seen those pictures of parents leaning over their oblivious children, taking flaming arrows into their arms and backs to protect them from harm, specifically the harm of sinful influences?  As a parent, I fully appreciate the message that sends.  It’s something my wife and I try our best to do as parents every single day.

Yet the shield from sin and its consequences we make for our children is not enough.

Abram had just come from a battle he had won (Gen. 14).  Being in a battle in which swords were drawn, spears were thrown, and arrows were shot, we can almost say with certainty that Abram had used a literal shield, and that literal shield had likely saved his life on multiple occasions that day.

Moses then immediately wrote, “After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: ‘Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great'” (Gen. 15:1).

The Lord – Yahweh, Jehovah, kyrios in the Greek of the New Testament, the same term used in the definition of the name “Jesus” (“Jehovah saves”) — is telling Abram, “I am your shield.”  Jesus, part of the Godhead (John 1:1, 14), is telling Abram that He is his shield.  Abram, having just come from a day in which it is very likely that a physical shield saved his life on multiple occasions, likely could appreciate that very much.

Jesus is our Shield too.  He is ultimately the only Shield adequate to truly protect us from sin.  Whatever shield we parents provide our children as protection from sinful influences ultimately comes from the influence and teaching of the True Shield, the Christ.

Paul knew this.  That’s why he quoted the Messianic prophecy which says, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me” while speaking of Christ (Rom. 15:3).  Christ took on himself the sins, the reproaches, of us all.  He bore the wounds which we deserve.

He is our Shield.

Praise God!