“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. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” So Abram departed as the LORD had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.” Genesis 12:1-4 NLT
Many of us who follow Christ often struggle with knowing what God is asking of us. At least, I do. Maybe I am alone here, but I think not.
Often, the question is, “God, what are you saying to me?” What I’ve found is that I keep asking the question even when I feel like I have a sense of what God may have spoken. I have an inkling of what God is asking of me. I can see the next step. But I hesitate to take it because I can’t see where that step will lead. I can’t see a clear outcome, so I hesitate. Anyone else?
What I see in the life of Abraham is that he took the step of obedience even when the outcome wasn’t clear. He demonstrated faith and trust in God by acting. He went without knowing because he knew that God said go and had promised to bless him. No detailed action plan with stated outcomes. Just, “Go. And I will bless you.” So, Abraham went.
The thing about Abraham is that he didn’t do that just once.
He left Ur.
He divided the land with Lot,
He went up the mountain prepared to sacrifice Isaac.
He didn’t always do it perfectly. (Ask Sarah or Hagar.) But overall, Abraham demonstrated a life of obedience before clarity. A simple principle. Simple, but not easy.
It seems like Abraham lived a life that had a simple theme: Obey first. Understand after.
I don’t know about you, but I like to understand before I act!
When Tom and I moved from the Hudson Valley, where we had spent most of our lives, to the Syracuse area it was because we had a sense of calling. No clear picture of what was going to happen when we moved. But we felt like God said, “Go. And I will bless you.” So, we took the time to transition the church we were pastoring to new leadership and left our well-established roots. Abraham was often on our minds. Go without knowing. Action before clarity.
Even after several years of living here, there is not a complete sense of clarity. But there is a sense of rightness. We are where we are supposed to be. We have obeyed, and God is blessing us. But we know there is more.
I have found that clarity comes with obedience. In seasons of uncertainty, it’s easy to avoid action. We often don’t fully know what God wants, but something seems to keep rising to the top of our minds. There is one thought that won’t go away. Often that is the thing we must do. But we hesitate, wanting to be certain. The truth is, like Abraham, we won’t be certain until we actually do it.
Abraham could not get away from God’s request to sacrifice Isaac. He acted in obedience. It was then that the clarity came. God made it clear when he told Abraham to stop and explained that Abraham had demonstrated his commitment. God wanted his whole heart, not really his son. (Geneses 22: 9-12)
Dear friend, what might God be asking of you right now? What thought can’t you get away from? It’s very possible that is the thing you must do, but you won’t have clarity until you actually do it. It won’t be easy to go without knowing. But obedience leads to action and action leads to clarity. Faith in uncertain seasons looks like a decision to act on what you know and believe God has said even when— especially when— you can’t see the outcome.
Key Question: How can I get clear on what God is asking of me?
A Scripture to Consider: “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. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” So Abram departed as the LORD had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.” Genesis 12:1-4 NLT
A YES Challenge: Take a few deep breaths and sit with God for a few moments. What has been thought that won’t go away? Consider your next step and determine when you will take it.
Prayer: Father, I want to obey You. I want to follow in Abraham’s steps and go without knowing, but it’s hard to take that step when I just don’t see how it’s going to turn out. I want the certainty, but it seems like certainty is only possible after I take the step. Empower me by Your Spirit. Help me go without knowing. Help me trust that You will bless my step of obedience and grant me the clarity I seek. Amen.
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