so, here and always, God is to us what we most need at the moment,
whether it be comfort, or wisdom, or guidance, or strength. The
manna tasted to each man, as the rabbis say, what he most desired.
God's gifts take the shape of man's necessity.

Abram had just exercised singular generosity in absolutely refusing
to enrich himself from the spoil. God reveals Himself as 'his
exceeding great reward.' He gives Himself as recompense for all
sacrifices. Whatever is given up at His bidding, 'the Lord is able
to give thee much more than this.' Not outward things, nor even an
outward heaven, is the guerdon of the soul; but a larger possession
of Him who alone fills the heart, and fills the heart alone. Other
riches may be counted, but this is 'exceeding great,' passing
comprehension, and ever unexhausted, and having something over after
all experience. Both these aspects of God's preciousness are true
for earth; but we need a shield only while exposed to attack. In the
land of peace, He is only our reward.

2. Mark the triumphant faith which wings to meet the divine promise.
The first effect of that great assurance is to deepen Abram's
consciousness of the strange contradiction to it apparently given by
his childlessness. It is not distrust that answers the promise with
a question, but it is eagerness to accept the assurance and
ingenuous utterance of difficulties in the hope of their removal.
God is too wise a father not to know the difference between the
tones of confidence and unbelief, however alike they may sound; and
He is too patient to be angry if we cannot take in all His promise
at once. He breaks it into bits not too large for our lips, as He
does here. The frequent reiterations of the same promises in Abram's
life are not vain. They are a specimen of the unwearied repetition