A Pilgrim People | Tuesday | 9/1

You Don't Need the Whole Map

Hebrews 11:8–16

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out without knowing where he was going. By faith he lived in the land he had been promised as a stranger. He lived in tents along with Isaac and Jacob, who were coheirs of the same promise. He was looking forward to a city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith even Sarah received the ability to have a child, though she herself was barren and past the age for having children, because she believed that the one who promised was faithful. So descendants were born from one man (and he was as good as dead). They were as many as the number of the stars in the sky and as countless as the grains of sand on the seashore. All these people died in faith without receiving the promises, but they saw the promises from a distance and welcomed them. They confessed that they were strangers and immigrants on earth. People who say this kind of thing make it clear that they are looking for a homeland. If they had been thinking about the country that they had left, they would have had the opportunity to return to it. But at this point in time, they are longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God isn’t ashamed to be called their God—he has prepared a city for them.

Most of us would prefer God to give us an itinerary.

Tell me where we're going. Tell me how we're getting there. Tell me how long it will take. Then I'll decide whether I'm willing to go.

But Abraham didn't get an itinerary.

Scripture says he went out “without knowing where he was going.”

Pilgrims don't always get a map. Sometimes they simply get a compass.

Abraham knew the direction because he knew the One who had called him. He could move forward without knowing the destination because his confidence wasn't ultimately in the route. His confidence was in God.

There may be places in your life right now where you'd desperately like some turn-by-turn directions. You want to know how something will work out or what comes next.

Faith doesn't always mean knowing.

Sometimes faith means taking the next faithful step because you trust the One leading you.

You may not know the destination.

But you can know the direction.

Reflect

Where are you waiting for God to give you a complete map before you're willing to move?

Pray

God, I don't always know where you are taking me. Teach me to trust you enough to take the next faithful step. Be my compass when I cannot see the whole road ahead. Amen.