August 9, 2014.

Today I am moving to Arkansas in preparation to start my graduate work at UAMS, and it is an experience filled with mixed emotions. On the one hand, I am excited at new opportunities and paths that I will undoubtedly start new journeys on; but then there is the other hand of leaving my old life in Chattanooga and my friends and family which makes me sad. I am trying to make the best of this move, remembering that God is with me and will lead me into his will where I am. May He ever do so and make my will His own.

I feel a bit like Abraham, though my move is not as dramatic as his I suppose. Abraham had a good life as far as we can tell. He seems to have come from a wealthy family in the Ur of the Chaldeans, perhaps with many different connections and friends. But God had a different plan for him, calling him from the land of his family, asking him to leave every thing that he had ever known and journey to a new land in which the Lord would guide him. As far as we know, God didn’t tell Abraham where this land was or many of the details about the trip at all.

“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. And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
(Genesis 12:1-3)

Abraham asked no questions and made no excuses. Here was a guy who was 75 years old, living his life in a stable environment (probably) having his life in order, or so it seems. “You want to call me now? Why? Could you not get someone else who is just starting their journey?” None of that is recorded as having been said by Abraham. He just took his wife and left. Imagine the faith he must have had. God said “Move” and he just did it. Like, “Ok, sure thing. Come on Sarah, pack your things, we’re leaving.” He is commended for this in the book of Hebrews:

“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. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.”
(Hebrews 11:8-10)

Abraham obeyed his call, and through him the whole of humanity was blessed. God didn’t have to tell him what he was going to do for Abraham to obey, and be rewarded mightily for it. So too with us does God not have to tell us why we are called to go to a certain place or to do something. We just have to trust in Him that He will lead us into his glory. At times this is a hard thing to do. I think it would be beneficial to remember the story of Abraham in times like these, and go where the Lord calls. When we submit to his will, he will shelter us in his hand so that the blessing wills flow, wether in this life or the next. May God lead you where he calls.

Suggested Daily Reading: Genesis 11-13, Hebrews 11.

The Lord bless you and keep you.

-Walter