It wasn’t just the physical act of leaving that was radical—it was the trust and hope in God that propelled Abraham to obey without knowing the full plan. Abraham’s response is remarkable. Scripture tells us, “So Abram went, as the Lord had told him.” This was an act of faith, but it was also an act of profound hope. Abraham hoped in a God who had made promises that seemed impossible at the time. He and Sarah had no children, yet God promised to make him a great nation. Hope drove Abraham to trust in God’s word.
This hope wasn’t a blind leap. It was grounded in the character of God—a God who keeps His promises, even when circumstances look bleak. One of the most powerful statements in the New Testament about Abraham comes from Romans: “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations.” This phrase, “against all hope,” captures the essence of Abraham’s life. In almost every instance, God’s promise and Abraham's circumstances seemed utterly impossible, and there was failure along the way. Abraham and Sarah were old, well beyond childbearing years, and in the face of this impossibility, Abraham’s hope faltered at times, as we see in the story of Hagar.
When Abraham and Sarah decided to take matters into their own hands, resulting in the birth of Ishmael through Hagar, we see a moment of human weakness. Was this a failure of hope? Perhaps. It was certainly an attempt to fulfill God’s promise through human effort. But even here, in the midst of doubt and impatience, God remained faithful. He reaffirmed His promise that Sarah would bear a son, and through Isaac, the covenant would be fulfilled.
Despite Abraham’s moments of doubt, the overarching narrative of his life is one of hope. Romans goes on to say, “Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead…and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith…being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” Abraham’s hope wasn’t in his own ability to bring about the promise. It wasn’t in human methods or plans. His hope was in God alone. Even when there was no reason for hope—against all hope—he continued to believe in the God who had called him.
The New Testament often looks back to Abraham as a model of faith and hope. Hebrews reflects on God’s promise to Abraham: “When God made his promise to Abraham…he swore by himself, saying, ‘I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.’ And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.” The theme of waiting patiently is crucial. Abraham had to wait many years before Isaac was born. Even after Isaac’s birth, the fulfillment of the promise of descendants as numerous as the stars was something Abraham wouldn’t fully see in his lifetime. Yet, he held onto hope, trusting that God would fulfill His word, even if it took generations.
In Galatians, Paul tells us that those who have faith are children of Abraham. The promise made to Abraham wasn’t just about physical descendants; it was ultimately about spiritual descendants—people from every nation who would come to faith in Jesus Christ. Abraham’s hope wasn’t just for a son; it was for a legacy of faith that would bless the entire world. And that hope was realized in Christ.
So, what can we learn from Abraham’s life of hope? First, we learn that hope requires faith in God’s promises, even when we don’t see the full picture. Abraham had to trust God day by day, step by step, with no guarantees except God’s word. Second, we learn that hope doesn’t mean the absence of doubt or struggle. Abraham’s story includes moments of weakness and attempts to fulfill God’s promise in his own way. But God’s faithfulness never wavered, and Abraham’s hope ultimately rested in God’s power, not his own. Finally, we learn that true hope transcends our circumstances. Abraham hoped against all hope, not because he had everything figured out, but because he believed in a God who can bring life out of barrenness and fulfill promises that seem impossible.
May we, like Abraham, hold onto this hope, knowing that the God who called us is faithful. And just as Abraham’s hope was fulfilled in ways far beyond what he could have imagined, so too will our hope in God be fulfilled, often in ways we cannot yet see.
Against all hope... may we, in hope, believe in the God who always does what He says He will do.
Age 75: God's Call to Leave Haran (Genesis 12:1-4)Age 86: Birth of Ishmael (Genesis 16:16)
Age 99: Covenant Reaffirmed; Name Changed (Genesis 17)
Age 100: Birth of Isaac (Genesis 21:5)
Age 105: Hagar and Ishmael Sent Away (Genesis 21:8-21)
Age 137: Death of Sarah (Genesis 23:1)
Age 140: Isaac Marries Rebekah (Genesis 24:67)
Age 175: Death of Abraham (Genesis 25:7-8)
1 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. 2 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. 3 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.”
This passage captures a moment of profound significance in Scripture. Abram’s calling by God sets into motion over 4,000 years of human history and lays the foundation for three major world faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It is a turning point that reverberates through centuries of spiritual thought and practice.
As I reflect on this, I’m captivated by the depth of study and commentary surrounding Abram, or Abraham as he would later be known. Countless writings have been dedicated to him across different cultures and eras. And while it is impossible to cover every angle of this monumental figure, certain key themes stand out—such as the Abrahamic Covenant, the role of faith, and the geographical and historical context of the Middle East.
In particular, I’ve found Richard Pratt’s approach to be especially insightful, with his focus on four themes: Divine Grace, Abraham’s Loyalty, God’s Blessing of Abraham, and Blessings Flowing Through Abraham. These principles help us understand both the spiritual and practical implications of Abraham’s journey of faith.
Today, I want to explore one specific idea: the concept of "going from" and "going to." This is central to the life of faith. Abram’s story begins with God’s command to leave behind everything he knew—his country, his family, his security—and step out into the unknown, trusting God to lead him. This call of faith is a holy abandonment to God’s will and direction.
There’s an intriguing detail in Genesis 11 that gives further context: Terah, Abram’s father, originally set out with his family, including Abram, from Ur of the Chaldeans. They traveled to Haran, where Terah died. God’s call to Abram came after this, instructing him to continue the journey to a land that God would show him.
It made me wonder about the cycles of loss and death that can trap families for generations. Terah loses a son, and then he dies in a place with the same name as that son. Could this be a metaphor for how we sometimes cling to the familiar, even when it leads to stagnation or decay?
We often resist leaving the comforts of "normal" life, not realizing how dead and decayed that way of life can become. We hang on to what we think is security, unaware that it may actually be dragging us into a death spiral. Jesus’ call to leave everything and follow Him echoes this same challenge: to let go of what holds us back, even when it seems good, and to trust God for the unknown future.
However, this call to follow God can be difficult to discern in our own lives. How do we know when God is calling us to leave something behind? How do we avoid using this as an excuse to run from difficulties rather than face them in faith?
In my own experience, I think back to 2004, when my family and I made the decision to move to Nashville. It wasn’t an easy choice. We left behind deep roots, family, and friends, and entered a completely unknown situation. It was uncomfortable and unsettling, but it also taught us to trust God in ways we hadn’t before. He provided for us, even in the challenges.
After some time, however, we encountered difficulties. Financial struggles, opposition from others, and concerns for our oldest daughter’s well-being led us to question whether we had misunderstood God’s call. We prayed, reflected, and reaffirmed that this move was indeed God’s leading. It wasn’t an easy journey, but it taught us to redefine what it means to be blessed by God. Eventually, these challenges culminated in my termination after seven years of honest effort—a painful experience, yet one that deepened our faith.
This reminds me that the life of faith isn’t always about immediate success or clarity. Abraham waited years for God to fulfill His promises, often wondering if he had heard God correctly. Sometimes, faith involves long seasons of waiting and trusting without seeing the full picture.
In practical terms, the call to "leave" may not always be about physically moving. For some, it is. But for others, it’s about leaving behind sinful patterns, unproductive habits, or self-rule to follow God more fully. As we reflect on our own lives, we must ask ourselves: What is God calling me to leave behind?
And once we leave, we must also be willing to "go" where God leads. This involves a daily abandonment of our own desires, expectations, and comfort zones. It requires a forward-looking faith, trusting that God is taking us somewhere—even if we can’t see the destination yet.
To close, I’ll offer two applications:
Leave – Leaving might mean geographical relocation for some, but for all of us, it means leaving behind old ways of thinking, sin, or self-rule. Consider what God might be calling you to leave today. What needs to be left at the cross?
Go – The best way to leave is to go. Don’t look back with regret; look ahead to where God is taking you. Trust in His guidance, even when the path is unclear.
Following God’s call is not always easy, but it is always worth it. As John Calvin reminds us in his Institutes: “The principal part of self-denial...has reference to God...we must resign ourselves, and all we have, to the disposal of the Lord.”
May God’s grace guide you as you listen for His call and follow Him in faith.
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