Teaching Note 7

Faith Insight 7: Abraham—Called Before He Understood

“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.”— Hebrews 11:8 (ESV)

Long before those disciples left their nets beside the Sea of Galilee, another man heard God's call and stepped into an unknown future. His name was Abram.

 God said to him:  “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.”— Genesis 12:1 (ESV)

Notice what God did not give Abraham.  He did not give him a detailed map.

He did not explain every difficulty he would encounter.  He did not tell him how every part of the promise would be fulfilled.  God called—and Abraham had to decide whether he trusted the One who was calling him.  Hebrews later summarizes Abraham's response with a remarkable phrase: “And he went out, not knowing where he was going.”

That is one of Scripture's clearest pictures of living faith.

Abraham knew enough to __________, but not enough to see the __________ journey.

But __________ often asks us to trust God __________ we understand everything He is doing.

That does not mean biblical faith is irrational or that we should act upon every impulse and call it God's direction. Abraham acted because __________   __________ __________.

We may not know what __________ holds.

We may not understand why a __________ season has entered our lives.

We may not see how a difficulty will be __________ or how God's __________ will unfold.

But we are rarely without any light at all.

God has revealed His __________.

He has given us His __________.

He has made Himself known most fully in __________  __________.

And often He has already made clear the __________ faithful step.

Living faith means __________ God enough to take the __________ He has already made clear.

FOR REFLECTION

Am I waiting for complete understanding before obeying something God has already made clear?

A PRACTICAL RESPONSE

Think about one area of your life in which you have been reluctant to move forward because you cannot see how everything will work out.

Ask:  “What has God already made clear through Scripture?”

Instead of trying to solve the entire future, identify the next faithful step and entrust what follows to God.  Write your next steps below:

A SIMPLE PRAYER

Father, I often want to see the entire road before I take the next step. Teach me to trust Your character when I do not understand Your purposes. Give me wisdom to recognize what You have made clear and faith to obey while leaving the unknown future in Your hands. In Jesus' name, amen.