An Uncertain Journey

Recently, I have had to go through a study on the life of Abraham, and as expected, it’s a well that doesn’t run dry. I read through the twelfth chapter of the book of Genesis, and the entry in the fifth verse caught my attention.

And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

Genesis 12:5 (KJV)

The second half of that verse is the part of interest: “…and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.”

This is quite profound. Remember that this whole journey started as an act of obedience to the command and invitation of God. In practice, this journey wasn’t simple or straightforward.

Abram was not a single man; he was now going to embark on a trip, taking along his wife, nephew and members of his workforce, leaving all that they had known for years, moving away from the space, familiarity, comfort and opportunities of their current location to another place — a place they had never been to.

It was a dangerous journey. It was an impending disaster. Yet, Abram went. Why? God said so.

The Scripture says: and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

This sounds as though it was the morning after they left where they were that they arrived at Canaan. In reality, it was a journey of several days or perhaps weeks, across dangerous and perilous terrain.

It was a long trip, possibly slow, fraught with present danger and future uncertainty. Yet, “…and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.”

Isn’t it true to life? Our total obedience to God guarantees outcome. It does. The process and the outworking of our obedience may be uncertain and sometimes may take us through difficult and challenging processes. The pathway may be rough and turbulent. I have no doubt in my mind that the journey that Abram and his company made in obedience to God was not smooth.

Remember that, in a sense, Jacob was going to make the reverse trip, many years later, and included in the list of his demand from God was safety in journey. Yet in all that, the scripture says:“...and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.”

What is it that the Lord has called and commanded you to do? Where has He sent you to? What have you discerned to be His will for you?

And yet, you are still unable to go ahead because of fears, concerns and uncertainties that you are entertaining, either real or apparent. You feel that you will fail and miserably at that.

Yes, the road ahead may be filled with difficulties and challenges, and most likely, it is. But, you can have confidence in this: your act of total obedience to God will not end in failure. It won’t end as a shame and a disgrace. It won’t end in regret.

Why?

The Scripture says: “…and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.”