Trust and Leap

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Have you ever stood at the edge of a diving board, heart pounding, knowing that once you jump there's no going back? That moment when your brain is screaming "This is crazy!" but something deeper whispers "Trust and leap"? That's exactly where we find Abram in Genesis 12—standing at the edge of the biggest decision of his life, with God asking him to jump into a future he couldn't see or control. At 75 years old, this wasn't supposed to be the time for grand adventures, yet here was the Creator of the universe inviting him into the ultimate leap of faith.

Let’s take a moment to read Genesis 12:1-9:

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.

Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.

From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.

Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev.

REFLECT

When we first meet Abram in Genesis 12, he's not a young adventurer seeking his fortune. He's established, settled, and probably comfortable in Haran with his wife Sarai and nephew Lot. Then God shows up with what might be the most audacious request ever made: "Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you."

Notice what God doesn't provide: a detailed itinerary, a business plan, or even a destination address. He essentially says, "Trust me, start walking, and I'll let you know when you get there." For most of us, this would be the point where we'd ask for references, testimonials, or at least a clearer job description. But Abram's response reveals something profound about the nature of faith.

What makes Abram's story so compelling isn't that he was naturally brave or that he had some special insider knowledge about God's character. The text gives us no indication that Abram had a long history of divine encounters. He was, in many ways, just like us—ordinary, uncertain, and probably a little overwhelmed by the magnitude of what he was being asked to do.

Yet Abram said yes. Not because he had all the answers, but because he chose to trust the One who does. This is what real faith looks like—not the absence of questions or doubts, but the decision to move forward despite them. Faith isn't about having perfect clarity; it's about taking the next step when you can only see one step ahead.

God doesn't just ask Abram to leave; He also makes incredible promises. "I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you."

These weren't just personal promises—they were cosmic in scope. God was essentially telling Abram that his obedience would impact not just his own family, but all of humanity. Sometimes when God calls us into the unknown, it's not just about our own growth and blessing, but about how He wants to use our obedience to bless others in ways we can't even imagine.

Abram's story speaks to anyone who's ever stood at the crossroads of comfort and calling. Maybe you're sensing God nudging you toward a career change, a move, a relationship decision, or a ministry opportunity that feels scary and uncertain.

Abram teaches us that faith isn't about having all our ducks in a row before we take the first step. It's about trusting that God's promises are more reliable than our plans, that His vision for our lives is better than our comfort zones, and that sometimes the greatest adventures begin with the scariest decisions.

The same God who called Abram is still calling people today—still asking ordinary people to do extraordinary things, still making promises that seem too good to be true, and still proving Himself faithful to those who dare to say yes to His invitations.

RESPOND

Take a moment to process what God might be leading you to do in light of what you read.

• What "familiar territory" in your life might God be asking you to leave behind in order to step into His promises for you?

• How do you typically respond when faced with uncertainty—do you tend to seek more information, or are you able to move forward with incomplete knowledge?

REST

Take a moment to rest in God’s presence and consider one thing you can take away from your time reading, then close your devotional experience by praying:

Lord, like Abram, we often find ourselves called to step into the unknown. Give us the courage to trust Your promises even when we can't see the full picture. Help us remember that You are more faithful than our fears are powerful. May our willingness to follow You become a blessing not just to us, but to everyone whose lives we touch. Amen.