Topic: When God’s Instructions Don’t Make Sense, Obey Anyway [RICK WARREN Devotional 3 December 2019]

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BY RICK WARREN — DECEMBER 3, 2019

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8 NIV).Faith is following God’s instructions, even when they don’t make sense, even when they don’t seem logical or rational. Faith means being obedient.

One of the best examples of this in the Bible is Abraham: “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8 NIV).

Imagine God coming to Abraham one day, tapping him on the shoulder, and saying, “Abraham, we’re moving!”

Abraham says, “Great! Where are we going?”

“You don’t need to know.”

“How soon do we leave?”

“Right now!”

“What’s it going to be like?”

“Milk and honey!”

“Great! That’s really descriptive. How will I know when I get there?”

“I’ll let you know.”

“How long is it going to take?”

“Don’t worry!”

“Okay. I’ll go home and start packing!”

That took faith. Abraham followed God’s instructions, even when it meant uprooting his family for the unknown, even when it didn’t make any sense to him.

Has God ever asked you to do something that didn’t make sense? When he does, don’t ask questions—just do it!

Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (NIV).

Trust in God’s wisdom, not your own. When you obey even when you don’t understand, you will grow in faith and spiritual maturity.

• When has God told you to do something that didn’t make sense? What was the result of your obedience—or disobedience?
• Why is it wiser to trust God’s wisdom and not your own?
• How does God use our obedience to grow our faith? What does he want us to learn?

Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.