When God Says GO!

Imagine receiving a call to pack up everything you own and start walking to an unknown destination. No GPS, no clear directions, just a simple command: “Go.” This was the extraordinary experience of Abraham, a 75-year-old man who would become known as the father of faith.

What Does It Mean to Follow God’s Call?

Abraham’s story begins in Genesis 12 with a divine command that would change everything. “‘The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’ So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.'” – Genesis 12:1-4 (NIV)

This wasn’t a young man seeking adventure or a career change. Abraham was at retirement age, yet he chose to trust God’s voice over his own comfort and security.

Why Did Abraham Leave Everything Behind?

Abraham’s obedience came with significant promises from God. Despite the costly demands, God made five crucial commitments:

• I will make you into a great nation
• I will bless you
• I will make your name great
• I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you
• All peoples on earth will be blessed through you

These promises formed the foundation of what we call the Abrahamic covenant, marking a pivotal shift in God’s redemptive plan for humanity.

Does Following God’s Will Guarantee an Easy Path?

Abraham’s journey wasn’t without challenges. Soon after arriving in the promised land, a famine forced him to take his family to Egypt for survival. This teaches us a crucial truth: the absence of hardship is not the litmus test of doing God’s will.

Throughout Scripture, we see that those following God’s calling often face significant obstacles. Joseph, Moses, the prophets, Jesus, and Paul all encountered difficulties while walking in obedience to God.

Abraham’s Failures and God’s Faithfulness

In Egypt, fear led Abraham to ask his wife Sarah to pose as his sister rather than his wife, believing this would protect him from jealous violence. This decision put Sarah in danger and showed Abraham’s human frailty.

Yet even in Abraham’s failure, God remained faithful. “‘But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. So Pharaoh summoned Abram. ‘What have you done to me?’ he said. ‘Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife?'” – Genesis 12:17-18 (NIV)

God protected Sarah and ensured Abraham’s family was returned safely, demonstrating that divine purposes prevail even through human weakness.

How Do We Handle Conflict While Following God?

As Abraham and his nephew Lot became wealthy, their herds grew too large for the land to sustain both families. Rather than fighting, Abraham chose peace and generosity, allowing Lot to choose the best land for himself.

This act of selflessness revealed Abraham’s character and trust in God’s provision. After Lot chose the well-watered plains, God spoke to Abraham: “‘Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever.'” – Genesis 13:14-15 (NIV)

Abraham’s willingness to give up immediate advantage resulted in God expanding His original promise beyond imagination.

What Does It Mean to Fight for Family?

When Lot was captured during a regional conflict, Abraham didn’t hesitate to act. With only 318 trained men from his household, he launched a rescue mission against a much larger enemy force.

Through strategic planning and divine favor, Abraham’s small army achieved victory and recovered everything that was taken. This demonstrated that God’s power isn’t limited by human resources or conventional wisdom.

The Mysterious Meeting with Melchizedek

After the victory, Abraham encountered Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High. “‘Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.’ Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.'” – Genesis 14:18-20 (NIV)

Abraham’s immediate response was to give a tithe, demonstrating his recognition that victory came from God, not his own strength.

How Do We Handle Doubt and Disappointment?

Despite all God’s promises, Abraham carried a deep burden: he remained childless. In a moment of raw honesty, he expressed his frustration to God: “‘But Abram said, ‘Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?'” – Genesis 15:2 (NIV)

God’s response was both tender and powerful. He took Abraham outside and said, “‘Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.'” – Genesis 15:5-6 (NIV)

This moment reveals that God can handle our doubts, fears, and honest questions. Abraham’s faith wasn’t perfect, but it was genuine.

What Makes God’s Covenant with Abraham Special?

God established His covenant with Abraham through a unique ceremony called a self-implicatory oath. Abraham cut sacrificial animals in half and arranged them with a path between the pieces. Then God, appearing as a smoking fire pot and blazing torch, passed between the pieces.

This symbolic act meant God was saying, “May I be destroyed like these animals if I don’t fulfill my promises to you.” It was the ultimate guarantee, with God staking His own existence on His faithfulness to Abraham.

Life Application

Abraham’s journey teaches us four essential lessons for our own faith walk:

Faith requires leaving our comfort zones. Growth never happens in comfort. Abraham left everything familiar because he trusted God’s call over his own security. As North American Christians, we must be willing to step out of our comfort zones to experience meaningful spiritual transformation.

Righteousness comes by faith alone, not works. Despite his failures, Abraham was credited with righteousness because of his faith in God. Our standing with God isn’t based on our perfection but on our trust in His character and promises.

Worship should be ongoing. Throughout his journey, Abraham built altars wherever he went. Worship isn’t confined to Sunday mornings—it’s a daily practice that acknowledges God’s presence in every circumstance and location.

Tithing reflects our trust and priorities. Abraham’s immediate response to give a tenth to Melchizedek demonstrated his understanding that God was the source of all blessing. Tithing acknowledges that God owns everything and that we trust Him to provide for our needs.

This week, challenge yourself to step out in faith in one area where God is calling you to trust Him more. It might be in your relationships, career, finances, or service to others.

Ask yourself these questions:

• What comfort zones is God asking me to leave behind?
• Am I trying to earn God’s favor through my actions, or am I resting in His grace?
• How can I make worship a more consistent part of my daily life?
• What does my giving reveal about where I place my ultimate trust?

Like Abraham, we serve a God who is faithful to His promises even when we fail. Through Jesus Christ, we have access to the same covenant relationship that began with Abraham—a relationship built on faith, sustained by grace, and guaranteed by God’s unchanging character.

ℹ Note: The initial draft of this material was prepared with assistance from AI (SermonShots.com). It has been reviewed, revised, and approved by Pastor Tim Coleman to ensure theological accuracy, pastoral appropriateness, and alignment with WPBC values.