Genesis 12:1-8 | 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 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.” So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him. From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD. And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb.
A Journey with Jesus
Every journey requires supplies. On the journey of life, some of the best supplies are God’s Word and a bit of encouragement from friends. This Our Daily Journey reading plan features 30 days of writing from trusted authors whose insights speak into your life. Each short devotional contains a story supported by multiple Scripture references as well as a “Next” section to help you think more deeply. Make the most of your devotional time with truth and encouragement from Our Daily Journey.
Leaping From the Enclosure
The African impala is a deerlike creature that can jump to a height of 3 meters (nearly 10 feet) and cover a distance greater than 11 meters (36 feet) in one bound. Yet the impala can be kept in a zoo enclosure with just a 1-meter-high wall. Why? Because it isn’t tall enough to peer over the barrier, and it won’t jump if it can’t see where its feet will land.
That’s like a lot of us—we often won’t take a leap of faith unless we can see where we’ll land. Abraham can show us another way.
Abraham was 75 when God’s call to leap came. He was old and childless, but he was called to found a new land and start a nation (Genesis 11:30, 12:1-8). God gave no details where Abraham was to walk or how he would have a child, saying only, “Go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation” (12:1-2, 17:5).
Leap from the enclosure, Abraham—leap! Abraham leaped. He set out in faith (12:4-6), soon found his land (v.7), later had his son (21:1-5), and became the father of a great nation (Hebrews 11:12). God guided Abraham’s feet, but only after he took the leap of faith.
On three occasions I believe God has led me to leap from my comfortable enclosure. In each case I’ve left a secure job without knowing what lay ahead. Leap from the enclosure, Sheridan—leap! I will guide your feet, but first you must leap.
And in each case God has led me to a place of greater service and impact. I’m not a perfect role model, though. I’ve fretted about money and the future. But I’ve learned this about walking by faith: We’ll rarely know the outcome before we make the leap, and we’ll rarely know the destination before we begin to walk.
Is God calling you to leap? Then leap!
MORE: Read Hebrews 11:1 and consider what real faith requires. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Discover more about trust in God.
NEXT: When did God last call you to take a leap of faith? What is He calling you to trust Him bravely for today?
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