“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.’” Genesis 12:1
“There was a certain man of Zorah,.. whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children. And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, ‘Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.’ Then the woman came and told her husband…
“Then Manoah prayed to the Lord, ‘O Lord, please let the man of God whom you sent come again to us and teach us what we are to do with the child who will be born.’ And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God came again… And Manoah said, ‘Now when your words come true, what is to be the child’s manner of life, and what is his mission?’ And the angel of the Lord said, ‘Of all that I said to the woman let her be careful.’” Judges 13:2-6a,8-9a,12-13
They could have used more information. God’s promises were surely spectacular, but the working out could be better anticipated, better planned if they knew what would transpire along the way, what would be required. Would He not divulge more? Surely He knew the whole story. In fact He did, but would keep them praying along the way. (Judges 14:2-4; 15:18-19)
When the Lord gives a promise with a command, it often comes with limited information. The invitation is to believe and act. He intends that we wean from dependence on what we know to develop confidence in Who we know. As we obey and faith grows, He reveals more. Along the way we learn to seek Him step by step, become more and more familiar with His ways, learn daily dependence on His wisdom and to trust His unseen hand. (Psalm 32:8; Proverbs 3:5-6)
If we hesitate to obey because of unknown conclusions, we miss out on faith’s adventure. We think the important thing is to be in control and able to order our steps to an exact destination, when God wants to teach us that He is both Way and End. Every step of progress, hardship, and testing is a step of growth and sanctification. (John 14:6; James 1:2-4; Revelation 22:13)
How well do we do with plodding obedience? Where is the Lord teaching us step by step trust, prayer by prayer strength and sufficiency? How is He using the process of walking with Him through darkness and disappointment to reveal His patience, goodness, comfort, omniscience? Are we learning to keep on and hold to His promises of redemption, victory, ultimate justice? Where is He stretching our faith to new lengths?
Lord, please keep on finishing my faith as I walk prayer by prayer and step by step with You. May daily obedience exalt Your character, ways, and glory. (Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 12:1-2)
As the rain and snow 