A Journey With God - May 4

Read Hebrews 11:8-10

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to a city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

Reflect

How is the Christian life similar to the journey that Abraham went on?

In Genesis 12:1-3, the Lord told a man named Abram (later Abraham) to “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Put yourself in Abraham’s shoes for a moment. Would you go? You don’t know where you’re going but God told you that He’d show you the way. You have to leave your home country and your family to live in a tent in a foreign land but God promised to bless you, curse your enemies, and make you into a great nation. Even better, the entire world will be blessed through God’s blessing to you.

Today’s passage is from what is often referred to as the “Hall of Faith” or “The Saints Hall of Fame.” The author of Hebrews is harkening back to the Genesis account of Abraham who did, in fact, faithfully obey God and go. Genesis 12:4 records that Abraham packed up and set off just as God had commanded him to.

But as we continue to read the Genesis account, we see that Abraham was not a perfect man and his faith faltered at times. And yet, in today’s passage, his faithful obedience is highlighted for us all as an example of what it means to live by faith. Because Abraham obediently stepped out in faith and followed God, the nation of Israel and the family line of the coming Messiah was established.

In his Old Testament commentary, Dr. Warren Wiersbe wrote: “The life of Abraham is an example for all Christians who want to walk by faith. Abraham was saved by faith and lived by faith, and his obedience was the evidence of his faith. Abraham obeyed when he did not know where, how, when, or why; and so should we. Abraham and Sarah were not perfect, but their walk was generally characterized by faith and faithfulness. When they sinned, they suffered for it; and the Lord was always ready to forgive when they repented…As you study the life of Abraham and Sarah, you will learn what faith is and how to walk by faith. You will discover that, when you trust the Lord, no test is impossible and no failure is permanent.”

Abraham did step out in faith and follow God to the land He had promised. But neither Abraham, nor his son, Isaac, nor his grandson, Jacob, were able to permanently possess that land. They lived there trusting that God would fulfill His promise to their descendants in the future.

Today’s passage reminds us that ultimately, Abraham trusted God for more than just an earthly Promised Land. He trusted in the Lord for a perfect and heavenly city—God’s eternal city. And it was that trust that saved him.

Like Abraham, we have been called by God to go on a journey with Him. He calls us to walk with Him through this life even though we don’t exactly know where, how, when, or why. We must step out in faithful obedience (however imperfect), trusting that God will keep His promises to us, and keeping our eyes on our eternal Promised Land…the heavenly city of God.

Respond

God, thank You for calling me to go on this journey through life with You. Help me to step out in faith and follow You, even when I don’t have all the details and I don’t know exactly how You are going to work it all out. Keep my eyes on my eternal destination, not on my earthly circumstances. Amen.

Reveal

Invite someone to join you on your journey of faith. You could share the Gospel with someone, offer to disciple a new believer, invite someone to your Bible study, etc.