The story of Abraham is amazing! He began his journey without knowing his ultimate destination. Who does that? When I was a kid we sometimes took a “Sunday drive”. Dad would simply drive the country roads with no set destination in mind, but we knew we would end up back home around dark. That however wasn’t the case with Abraham. He and Sara moved from their home and set out on a journey known only to God.
Amazingly Abraham set out on his journey without any complaint or questions. He simply took one step at a time trusting God to lead the way. Rather than resent or resist God’s command, bemoaning what he had to leave, he rested in his belief that God would not lead him astray. He based everything on the divine call. Basically all he knew was Whom he knew and believed. Let that sink in–it speaks volumes. So great was his faith that he is called “the father of all them that believe“( Rom. 4:11).
Don’t mistake Abraham’s actions for “blind faith”, taking a shot in the dark, or the lifestyle of a gypsy. He wasn’t like a hobo just wandering from place to place. Although he didn’t know exactly where he was going, he knew–
— Who was leading. He wasn’t just doing as he pleased, nor wandering aimlessly, nor following someone else. He was confident that God was directing his steps.
— Why he was going. This was an act of obedience. He was obeying God– a matter of great importance to him. It should be the same with us. Why is more important than what. What you do doesn’t matter if it’s what God wants you to do. Obedience to God should be the why behind all we do.
— What the result would be. He knew because God had revealed it to him. He would be blessed and a blessing. He knew a reward awaited him. And that goes a long way in keeping us going when the way gets long and the going gets tough. When you know your labor is not in vain you refuse to give up. Many have given up on life and resigned themselves to misery simply because they don’t know their God-given purpose in life.
None of us will receive the same kind of revelation or mission from God that Abraham did, but He has a plan for each of us. We don’t know all the details as to the future, but we can know that God will never lead us astray and that our faithfulness will be rewarded. What we leave behind should not be a matter of concern when we know something better lies ahead. We don’t need to know where we’re going as long as we are going with the Lord. For the child of God in the will of God, the future always looks bright if we look far enough ahead.–HDS
