In 1953, two men named Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay set their sights on the highest point on earth, Mount Everest. At the time, no one had ever successfully reached the summit. The mountain had defeated every attempt, and many had died trying.
As they began their climb, they didn’t have modern forecasting, satellite imaging, or detailed route certainty. They moved forward into ice, storms, and thin air, often unable to see what was ahead. There were moments when turning back would have felt safer and wiser. But they pressed on, step by step, trusting their training, their team, and their guide.
When Edmund finally stood at the summit, the world had changed. What was once considered impossible had been accomplished because they kept climbing when the outcome was still unseen.
Genesis 12 introduces us to the unknown journey that God sent Abram to pursue. With no map, no GPS, and no knowledge of where he was going, Abram followed God’s call. It is crucial we follow God’s call by faith and trust His promises…even when the road ahead seems unclear.
Leave Everything (Gen. 12:1-3)
We have a few important points of context as we approach Genesis 12. Turning back, we find that chapter 11 reveals 4 things:
In 11:28, Abram’s brother, Haran, dies earlier in life (before their father dies) while living in Ur.
In 11:29, Abram marries to Sarai
In 11:30, we find out Sarai is unable to conceive
In 11:31-32, Terah moves Abram, Sarai, and his grandson (Lot) to Haran and then dies.
So, when chapter 12 begins, Abram’s earthly father has passed away and now Abram’s heavenly father is calling him to leave Haran, his extended family (Nahor’s family, his father’s grave, his father’s home, family culture, family community, inheritance rights), and all he knows. God is calling Abram to leave what felt secure “to a land I will show you.” Abram did not even know the exact place he was to head towards, but what he did have was the promises of God (12:2-3)! These promises were actually the introduction to the Abrahamic Covenant. God promised Abram that He would make of Abram a great nation, that He would bless him, that his name would be great, and that He would bless those who bless Abram and curse those who curse Abram. Abram had a huge step of faith to make, but not without the impressive promises of God.
Do you remember what happened on June 6, 1944?
It is known as D-Day. Thousands of Allied paratroopers boarded planes knowing they would soon jump behind enemy lines in France. They knew their mission, but they didn't know exactly where they would land or what they would face. Many were scattered miles from their intended drop zones, yet they pressed on because they trusted the orders they had been given.
They didn’t have all the details, but they obeyed their orders. That is exactly what we see in Genesis 12.
Obedience required Abram to move forward without knowing all the details!
Abram left what was comfortable in order to follow God’s will. We often find the same choice crossing our pathways as well! Here are 5 examples of things we sometimes need to leave behind when we choose to follow God’s call.
We need to leave promotions behind when business practices are unethical or dishonest.
We need to leave personal ambitions behind when more time with our family is needed.
We need to leave sinful habits behind, instead of repeating our mistakes and repeating the mistakes of previous generations.
We need to leave anger and bitterness behind and choose to forgive someone who has deeply hurt us.
We need to leave hobbies, sports, or recreation behind in order to prioritize times of worship and our family’s spiritual growth.
Godly fathers…godly men and women… are willing to leave behind whatever stands in the way of wholehearted obedience to God. Every man is leading others in his life somewhere! So, the question is not whether or not you are leading. The question is what you are leading others to!
Trust Completely (Gen. 12:4-6)
Abram, armed only with the promises of God, obeyed swiftly (12:4)! He gathered his wife, nephew, all their belongings, all those who worked for him, and traveled into Canaan (12:5).
When construction of the Golden Gate Bridge began in 1933, workers spent years building the massive support towers before the roadway was ever completed. At times, there was no bridge stretching across the bay, only towering pillars rising from the water. Yet every day, workers continued because they trusted the engineer's blueprint. They couldn't see the finished bridge, but they believed the design would hold together.
Abram faced something even greater. He didn't have a blueprint, a map, or a timetable. All he had was the word of God! What an amazing picture of Abram’s faith in God! Abram obeyed God with a huge step of faith and trusting the promises of God. Can you see how this is an incredibly powerful and encouraging section of scripture? Stop for a moment and rehearse these 6 comforting promises of God for confusing times as seen in Genesis 12.
God’s presence. God called Abram to an unknown land and promised to guide and bless him. Gen. 12:1-3; Heb. 13:5.
God’s provision. Abram left his security to depend on God. Matt. 6:33; Phil. 4:19.
God’s guidance. God told Abram to go to a land “that I will show you.” Gen. 12:1; Prov. 3:5-7; Ps. 32:8.
God’s blessings. Chapter 12 is filled with promises of God’s blessing. God promises blessing follows obedience. This is not transactional or earned blessing. It is the natural outcome of living in step with God. For example, a river gives refreshment to those who drink from it, but not because they earned it. This is simply the outcome of drinking from the river. God’s blessings are simply what happens when obeying Him. Jn. 13:17; James 1:25.
God’s inheritance. Abram is promised land, but today we are promised a far greater inheritance in heaven! I Pet. 1:3-4; Rom. 8:17.
God’s working for good. Abram could not see where all this would lead him and how everything would unfold. God sees the destination while we only see the next step. God is working for you in ways you cannot see! Rom. 8:28-29.
God never asks us to leave something without promising something far greater. When we choose sacrifice over comfort, we may sacrifice temporary ease, but what we gain is far more valuable. We gain the joy of vibrant relationship with the one true God. A closeness with the One who is love, the giver of peace, and the source of genuine joy!
Worship Continually (12:7-9)
God yet again makes a promise and tells Abram He will give his family line this land (Canaan). Abram builds an altar and worships the Lord. In fact, Abram builds many altars when God worked in his life! Here are a few examples: Gen. 12:8 (between Bethel and Ai Abram calls on God during his journey); 13:3-4 (after his failure in Egypt); 13:14-18 (God affirms His covenant at Hebron and Abram worships); 22:9 (on Mt. Moriah after God tested Abram).
Whenever God moved in Abraham’s life, Abraham responded with worship!
It is obvious that we do not build altars today (like they did in the Old Testament). However, we should still remember God’s faithfulness through worship, testimony, and yielding our lives to Him!
The greatest legacy a father can leave is a home where God is honored and worshipped consistently.
Years ago I was driving the church teens to summer camp. We had about a 3 hour trip and the last hour of driving was infiltrated with one of the strongest rain storms I have witnessed. You could barely see the car in front of you, everyone on the road had their hazards lights on, and the speed of travel slowed to a crawl. At one point, some cars chose to stop on the road because visibility was so poor, but the only problem was other drivers could not see them stopping on the road! It truly was an accident waiting to happen. The Lord enabled me to navigate around several stopped cars along the highway, and I chose to continue driving. My hazard lights were still on, and my speed was about 20 miles per hour (on a major highway). I wasn’t sure of what was ahead, but I could make out just enough of the white line on the shoulder to keep moving forward. Eventually, we arrived at the camp safe and sound.
Abram could not see ahead to where God was leading him. He could only see the promises of God enough to take the next step of faith. What is holding you back from taking the next step of faith and trusting God’s promises? Do you want to see more of the way before you obey? Does it look too hard or too long on the path? What about steps of faith like:
Follow God no matter what (esp. in your home life)
Lead your family closer to God (choose to come to church when the doors are open)
Model following God to those around you (Who are you leading others to?)
Make God your number choice…far ahead of sports, friendships, jobs, money, and recreation
Respond to God’s work in your life with worship
Choose to follow God’s call by faith and trust His promises even when the road ahead seems unclear.