Monday 4 October, 2021

8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. 13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Like most of us, I haven’t been driving very much the past few months, but I do miss it. For me driving is usually quite a precious time, particularly my daily commute. It’s time to think, reflect, worship, call and chat with friends and family – I quite enjoy it!

Reflecting on this, it’s funny how you pretty much always know where you’re going when you drive. Whether it’s mindlessly driving to work, plugging an address into Google Maps or asking your passenger where you’re heading, you don’t usually hit the accelerator until you have a destination in mind.

This passage speaks about faith, and how it operates in quite the opposite fashion. It reminds us that Abraham was obedient and left his homeland to follow God’s call, even though he didn’t know where he was going. He lived as a stranger in a foreign country, as did his descendants, because in faith they were waiting for a promised land from God. And ultimately, they all died not receiving this promise physically – they only received it by faith.

This challenges me immensely. So often I only equate faith to receiving from God in the here and now. Seeing the miracle happen, receiving the blessing, watching the breakthrough happen. But faith is going and trusting even when you can’t see the destination.

Lord, fill me with fresh faith. Help me to hear Your voice and to obey, even if there’s no clear destination and not even a clear next step. Help me to trust in You and stay close to You, so that no matter where you lead me, I follow in faith. Amen.

Written by Ps. Matt Samperi