Get Up and Go!

By faith Abraham, when called to a place he would later receive as an inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.  Hebrews 11:8

Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you..."  Genesis 12:1

I don't know if you're like me, but I am the type that really likes all of the details before I make a decision.  I want to see the whole picture, consider all of the possible scenarios, weigh my options... You get the picture.  I know that the LORD made me with a contemplative, cautious personality but He's also calling me to new depths of trust.  Unreserved trust.  Lately, He's been painting a picture of Abraham's journey for me and He's helping me to obey and go, even though I don't know exactly where I'm going.

Abraham trusted God.  He believed.  I imagine the LORD telling Abraham to leave all that's familiar and "go".  I can almost hear their dialogue...

"Where would you have me go, LORD?"

"Head southwest."

"To where, LORD?"

"Just start out in that direction.  I'll show you as you go."

Can't you just imagine God telling Abraham to follow that mountain range as it heads south?  When Abraham came to the land of Canaan, God could refine the directions... now head to Shechem.  And as Shechem approached, head to the giant oak of Moreh.  From here, Abraham "proceeded to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east."  We're told that "there he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD."  I wonder if he worshipped the LORD for the ways that He led him...  I wonder if he called upon the name of the LORD asking if this was where he was to stop or were they continuing on from here...  And "Abram journeyed on, continuing toward the Negev."


Isn't it awesome!  If the LORD had told Abraham back in Haran to head to such and such a tree or such and such a mountain, Abraham would have had no frame of reference.  It's as those things appear on the horizon that we can appreciate where the LORD is directing us.  My tendency is to want every direction, every turn, every landmark before I ever set out!  But He's teaching me!  The more I know Him, the less I need to know where I'm going.  He is faithful.  He has a plan.

I like Paul's description of genuine faith in 2 Timothy 1:5.  The Amplified Bible puts it this way...

...your sincere and unqualified faith (the leaning of your entire personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness)...

Joyce Meyers puts it this way, absolute trust and confidence in His power to be able to do what needs to be done, His wisdom to know what needs to be done and His goodness that He works all things together for my good.

Dear LORD, please help me to lean my entire personality on You no matter when or where you ask me to go.  Help me to know You more every day because when I remember Who You truly are, it's so much easier to put absolute trust and confidence in You.  Forgive me, LORD, for holding back my obedience because I want to have all of the details.  In Jesus' Name... So be it.

An Offering...

LORD God, You are so dear to me,
more dear than any else could be
and yet i often fail to show
this love that i profess to know.
i fail to live like one set free
by Your sacrifice upon that tree.
i tend to try to balance the scale
and live by works - oh, how i fail!
But You continue to draw me near.
You wake me early and speak to my ear.
You tell me that You love me still.
You loved me first.  You always will.
You forgive as i confess.
You lead me forth, correct and bless.
You alone are worth all praise!
i surrender all my days
into the Hands of the Three-in-One,
Beloved Father, Spirit, Son...