Change your interior world. Change your personal world. Change the world-at-large.
In this series, we’re discovering that we can reach back to the experience and achievement of Abraham for precedent in our lives.
But before we tap the dynamics of venturing in Abraham-like faith, let’s touch on his backstory. We may see similar themes in our own story.
Don’t miss the takeaways below.
This article is part 2 of the Questing with God series. Abraham is a touchstone for us — the original pattern of faith. What’s possible in your life?
Called to an Odyssey of Faith
The Creator reached into time and geography and called Abraham in a special way …
Abraham was born and spent the first part of his life in Ur, a city located in southern Mesopotamia on the Euphrates River. It’s about halfway between the Persian Gulf and Baghdad (present-day Iraq).
Ur was an important city in the ancient world with a vast library. Archeologists have uncovered what was a flourishing civilization. We know the city was prosperous with an extensive trade.
The Babylonians in Ur worshiped many gods, the moon-god Sin being the supreme god.
Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.
Leo Tolstoy, Russian writer
It was from this culture that God called Abraham to an Odyssey of Faith — a summons to be a world-changer. The One True God engaged time and space in a new, purposeful way.
The Creator’s design was a land, a new nation, and a Messianic line which would bless all peoples.
See the preceding article in this series: The Adventure Begins — Be Like Abraham
A World-Changer, a History-Maker
In the Old Testament scriptures, we see Abraham for the first time at the end of Genesis 11. His name was then Abram meaning “High Father” or “Exalted Father.” Later God would change his name to Abraham, “Father of a Multitude of Nations.”
Abram’s father, Terah, migrated from Ur to Haran. He took with him Abram, Abram’s wife Sarai, and Lot, the grandson of Haran. Haran was one of Terah’s sons who had died.
Abram traveled with his father NW along the Euphrates River, journeying within what’s known as the Fertile Crescent. The intention was to go to Canaan, but they settled in a city named Haran in northern Mesopotamia. As in Ur, the moon-god Sin was worshiped there.
God then called Abraham to journey further.
After the death of Terah, God called Abraham to leave his father’s house and to go forth to a land God would reveal. Now the Lord had said to Abraham: ‘Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’
Genesis 12:1-3 NKJV
World-Changers Advance Into the Unknown
As you read about the life journey of Abraham in the book of Genesis, you’ll be amazed at the faith-venture God called him to.
He didn’t have all the fine details of the plan. In fact, he didn’t have the plan at first! More would be revealed to him as he trusted God and advanced.
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going … for he was looking for a city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Hebrews 11:8, 10 NASB
Abraham was looking for God’s activity. What the Creator was designing. What he was building.
And built into the call were awesome promises:
A land would be revealed to him … a great nation would be established through him … God would bless him and make his name great … all the families and peoples of the earth would be blessed through him … those who blessed him would be blessed, those who cursed him would be cursed.
Key Takeaways for World-Changers
How can we benefit from the World-Changer template we see in Abraham’s life?
- Take courage and stretch for the precedent and standard of faith we see in Abraham. We’re to count for something significant — to steer history and be a world changer. Journeying with God is the way.
- It seems we often have to leave something to process with God. We leave “places” and “things” to pursue the faith odyssey. It’s not necessarily geography, though it could be. It may be a season of life you’re being asked to release. It could be relationships or career transition. It could be almost anything as God leads you.
- Know this … though we may not appreciate it at first, anything we release to move forward with God is more than returned to our lives. I believe this is the only way we find our “true” lives.
- Things are going to feel like we’re moving into the unknown. At least for a while. It’s not unknown to the Creator of course. And amazingly, as we continue to advance, many of the things that were unknown to us, become known. Here’s what the Apostle Paul said: “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him — these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God” (1 Cor. 2:9-10 ESV).
Can you see yourself as a world-changer in Christ? It all starts in our interior world. It then overflows into our personal world and the sphere of influence we’re designed for. Be encouraged to reflect on it, pray into it, and then start to take small steps of activity.
See the complete Questing With God series. Topics include faith as “substance” of what will be, God-reality trumps the lower reality, over-the-horizon thinking and belief, and more.