“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8).
Reflection:
Abraham was not a spiritual hero when God called him. He was an idolater from Ur, raised in a family of moon worshipers. He was not seeking God, and he had no qualifications that would make him an obvious choice. Yet God called him anyway.
This call highlights a central truth of the covenant of grace: salvation is entirely God’s initiative. As the sermon noted, Abraham was chosen not because of his righteousness but to display God’s grace. From Adam to Noah to Abraham, Scripture repeatedly shows that God’s redemptive plan advances through sovereign grace, not human merit.
Hebrews 11 reminds us that Abraham obeyed by faith, going out “not knowing where he was going.” His obedience flowed from his faith, and his faith was a gift of God’s grace. Romans 4:16 reinforces that the promise depends on faith so that it may rest on grace. The covenant is secure because it rests on what God does, not what we contribute.
If God’s call depended on worthiness, no one would stand. Grace is unearned, unexpected, and undeserved – and that is precisely what makes it good news.
Questions:
- In what ways do you still feel pressure to earn God’s favor rather than receive it by grace?
- How does Abraham’s calling encourage you to trust God even when the path ahead is unclear?