We always want to know the plan ahead of time, don’t we? We want to know God’s will in advance, right? We deserve to know what He’s going to tell us to do, isn’t that what we think? After all, we want to know if we’re going to be happy and comfortable with what His plans are for our lives. That way, we can decide whether or not we will obey. But what if God wants to send us somewhere without telling us ahead of time what He wants us to do when we get there? Do we so trust Him, and are we so yielded to Him, that we will go to a new place without knowing His plan in advance? Whether He is moving us to a new nation, or simply leading us to knock on our neighbor’s front door, will we go willingly, humbly, and without any debate, simply as an act of obedience?
Abraham in the Old Testament and Paul in the New Testament were used by God to change the course of history, not because they had a carefully written, carefully adhered to five-year plan for their futures, or because God had whispered into their ears the precise reason and plan for His decision to move them to new places, but because they were both willing to obey the Lord and to go to new places without knowing what exactly God would tell them to do when they got there.
Abraham became the Father of many nations and was of the lineage of Jesus Savior of the world, and Paul had a phenomenal conversion experience, became an apostle, was the most major writer of the New Testament of the Bible, helped begin the early church, and became one of the most significant preachers throughout time. Not because either one of them knew in advance why God was sending them to new places. But because He was God, and because they chose to trust Him and obey.
If God is calling you to a new place, whether it be a new place in your heart, a new way of living, a new job, a new relationship, a missions trip, a geographical move, whatever it is, no matter what He has or has not told you about what will happen after you make the change and arrive in that new place, will you trust Him and go – not because you know how it will all unfold, but simply, thankfully, and reverently because He is God?
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreignland, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; 10for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. 12Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN IN NUMBER, AND INNUMERABLE AS THE SAND WHICH IS BY THE SEASHORE. Hebrews 11:8-12 underlining added
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. 10In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” 13“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” 15But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” 17Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Acts 9:1-17 NASB underlining added
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