There are some people who are very spontaneous. They don’t need plans made in advance, and don’t mind stepping out into the unknown. Then there are those who need to have plans written up days, maybe even weeks or months ahead of time. Which group do you fall in? I can say with all honesty that I am in the latter group. Our Scripture today from the Book of Genesis tells of one who was willing to step out in a major move without any set plans in advance. Let’s see why and how he was able to do that without any hesitation.
One of the major characters that we read about in the Bible is that of the Patriarch Abraham, who has been referred to as the Father of Faith by many. We first meet him in the last few verses of Genesis 11, and then we read much further about him in our passage today where we see how he was willing to step out in faith, no questions asked. Abraham, or Abram as he was called in the earlier chapters of the Bible before the Lord gave him a change of name, was born in the city of Ur, which was one of the chief cities of the ancient Sumerian civilization in the south of Mesopotamia near the Persian Gulf. Ur was also the seat of worship for the pagan Sumerian moon god. At some point in Abram’s adult life, his father Terah took the whole extended family and left Ur, and moved to the city of Haran, about 650 miles northwest, in northern Mesopotamia (Genesis 11:31-32). This city was also a primary place of worship of the pagan moon god, so it is fairly safe to say that Terah worshiped this and other pagan deities. Though raised in a pagan family, at some point in either Ur or Haran, Abram came to believe and worship the one true God, Yahweh.
As we look into the opening verses of Genesis 12, we read that Yahweh called Abram, and told him to leave Haran, leave his extended family there, and go to a land that He promised to give him and his descendants (vs. 1-3). This is the first time God introduced the Abrahamic Covenant, which He makes again with Abraham in Genesis 15:18-21, and reaffirms in Genesis 17:1-21. It is an everlasting covenant, promising Abraham that he would have descendants, including the Messiah, land, a nation, and divine blessings and protection.
How would you react if someone told you to pack up your belongings and leave your extended family, leave the city you had been in for several years, leave your home, your job, all that you knew, and move somewhere? They were not clear at all as to where you were going to go, but just pack up and follow the occasional direction. Would you be willing to go, to step out in faith? Like I mentioned at the start, I like things planned out carefully. If I am going to change jobs, I want the new one already in place. If I am going to move, I want the next house or apartment waiting. If I am taking a vacation, I want it planned, map or GPS set, reservations made, car checked over. None of that was done for Abram. God told him to leave and travel, leave all he knew, and set forth, and Abram obeyed without hesitation (vs. 4-5). Abram didn’t know where he was going to, how long of a journey, or any details. He was just told to go. Abram stepped out in faith, leaving all known comfort and security.
Abram was to leave his family who had refused to accept the worship of Yahweh, the one true God. He was to separate from them and leave to receive God’s blessings. He took only his nephew Lot. Lot had faith in Yahweh, though it was a weak faith, as evidenced later in Genesis 19, but it still was faith. Abram obeyed God, which is critical in one’s relationship with Him, and Lot followed his uncle’s footsteps, at least for a while.
Abram had faith in God. Remember, he did not have any of the Bible then, no churches to attend, no preachers or other believers to encourage his faith. Yet he knew that he could trust God, even when he couldn’t see what lay ahead. It was this faith that saved his soul, that Scripture says was counted to him for righteousness (Galatians 3:36). Because Abram had such believing faith, the Lord promised to exceedingly bless him.
When God speaks about blessing someone, it’s a promise to intervene mightily and noticeably in that person’s life. But to get His blessing, we must have saving faith, and be obedient. Obedience and blessings are always connected. In order for us to receive God’s blessings we must obey Him.
When God calls us to do something for Him, when He calls us to a new or different ministry for Him, are we willing to step out in faith, even if the path ahead is unclear? Will we obey Him like Abram did? When we do, we can be assured that He will be with us, just as He was with Abram, and we will receive His blessings.
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