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Abraham’s Unquestioning Obedience, November 6
The Lord said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy
kindred and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And
I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name
great; and thou shalt be a blessing.
Genesis 12:1, 2
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God selected Abraham as His messenger through whom to communicate light
to the world. The word of God came to him, not with the presentation of flattering
prospects in this life of large salary, of great appreciation and worldly honor. “Get
thee out of thy country ... unto a land that I will shew thee” was the divine message
to Abraham. The patriarch obeyed, and “went out, not knowing whither he went,”
as God’s light bearer, to keep His name alive in the earth. He forsook his country,
his home, his relatives, and all pleasant associations connected with his early life,
to become a pilgrim and a stranger.... Before God can use him, Abraham must be
separated from his former associations, that he may not be controlled by human
influence or rely upon human aid. Now that he has become connected with God,
this man must henceforth dwell among strangers. His character must be peculiar,
differing from all the world. He could not even explain his course of action so
as to be understood by his friends, for they were idolaters. Spiritual things must
be spiritually discerned; therefore his motives and his actions were beyond the
comprehension of his kindred and friends.
Abraham’s unquestioning obedience was one of the most striking instances
of faith and reliance upon God to be found in the Sacred Record. With only
the naked promise that his descendants should possess Canaan, without the least
outward evidence, he followed on where God should lead, fully and sincerely
complying with the conditions on his part, and confident that the Lord would
faithfully perform His word. The patriarch went wherever God indicated his duty;
he passed through wildernesses without terror; he went among idolatrous nations,
with the one thought: “God has spoken; I am obeying His voice; He will guide,
He will protect me.”
Just such faith and confidence as Abraham had the messengers of God need
today. But many whom the Lord could use will not move onward, hearing and
obeying the one Voice above all others.... The Lord would do much more for His
servants if they were wholly consecrated to Him, esteeming His service above the
ties of kindred and all other earthly associations.—
Testimonies for the Church
4:523, 524
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