Leaving the Familiar for the City of God
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:8-10)
Stepping Into the Unknown
God called Abraham from the life he knew. There is a certain comfort in the familiar. Stepping into the unknown requires great faith. Abraham chose to trust God, believing His sevenfold promises (Genesis 12:1-3) were perfect in every way.
All seven of these promises were fulfilled, just as God offered. Abraham became a great nation through his promised son (Genesis 15:4, Exodus 1:7), he was blessed by God in every way (Genesis 24:1), his name became great (Genesis 14:18-20, John 8:39), he became a blessing for others (Genesis 14:14-16, Genesis 19:29), those who blessed him were blessed by God (Genesis 14:20, Hebrews 7:6-10), and those who cursed him were cursed (Numbers 21:21-35).
The Eternal Promise of the City of God
The final promise to Abraham finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, and in Him we, too, may find confidence in God. Paul writes in Galatians 3:7-9: “Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed.’ So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.”
Let’s take up the faith of Abraham, leave the ways of this world behind, and look forward to the city whose builder and maker is God.