If you woke up one morning and realised that God had spoken to you that night, would you be able to keep quiet? And if God had told you to pack up and go to a foreign country, because He would bless you so much there, would you like sharing that news with your spouse, friends or parents?

I wonder what I would say if I received a message that I had to leave everything in beautiful Stellenbosch, buy an old yellow Fleetline combi, and take the dirt road into to the unknown? Eish, I really like staying here, everything is familiar, and just around the corner …

Well, that is exactly what happened to Abraham. He received a call from God instructing him to leave his familiar world, the place where he grew up, where he had learnt about life, and to go on a journey. He didn’t really know where to, because God would show him the way as he went.

I take my hat off to him.

⁸By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God’s call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home. When he left he had no idea where he was going.

This one verse is a very good description of who Abraham was. Abraham must have had a very special relationship with God and because of that he must have known God well. In this intimate relationship with God, Abraham was prepared to give up everything and to do exactly what God asked and expected of him.

When you spend a lot of time with God, you want to do exactly what He expects of you. When God called, Abraham didn’t think twice; he took his stuff and left. ⁹By an act of faith …

We can only sell all our possessions and buy a yellow Fleetline combi to travel into unfamiliar territory if we really trust God. A child will only jump from a height into her dad’s arms if she trusts her dad 100%. The child can only build that trust by getting to know the dad well and knowing what he is able to do.

So, to answer the question whether you and I would leave everything to follow God’s instruction, is that there must already exist a strong relationship with Him. We would have had to already have spent hours, days with Him. Then we will be sure that it was God who called us. The trust will stand firm, so that we can lean on it.

May this encourage us to jump like Abraham, obedient to whatever God says. May we spend more and more time with God and get to know His voice well. May we get to know Him as the loving Father who only wants what is best for us. May we trust Him with everything in us.

Scripture
Hebrews 11:8-16

Reflection
How much time do you spend with God?
Do you know God well?
Do you trust God 100%?

Prayer
Father, I long to know You more, to spend more time with You. Help me make time for You in my busy day. I want to trust You with everything in me and do what You want me to do. In Jesus’ Name, amen.