You’ll See - Abram

The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.”

Genesis 12:1

Anyone who has taken a son or daughter to a surprise destination—maybe to a fun place for dinner or to the newest, most exciting amusement park—has dealt with the inevitable question: Where are we going, Dad? Most parents want to keep the destination a secret for as long as possible and give a nonanswer such as, “You’ll see!”

God didn’t give Abram (later renamed Abraham) a lot of details when he called him to leave his lifelong home in Haran and head out for “the land that I will show you.” He had promised Abram that he would father a great nation and that the entire earth would be blessed through him (see Genesis 12:2-3).

Still, there had to be questions.

Where exactly is this place?

What will we do once we get there?

How are you going to make me a great nation when my wife can’t bear children?

How can I be a blessing to all the families on earth?

Yet Abram went. He didn’t ask questions or request signs; he simply went.

Abram had never been to Canaan and had no idea how God would fulfill his promises, but he trusted God completely. He confidently and obediently took his family and headed out.

Since Abram believed God enough to step out in obedience, God used Abram to help bring the salvation we enjoy into the world.

Obedience always comes with an added blessing. We might like it more if God filled in the details for us ahead of time, but that isn’t what a life of faith entails. When he instructs us to go, we go. He knows what he’s doing even when he doesn’t give us a complete itinerary at the front end.