Part 1: Faith in the Face of the Unknown (Genesis 11:27

Devotional

Day 1: Faith Means Surrendering Control and Trusting God

True faith is not about having certainty through control, but about surrendering our desire to manage every outcome and instead trusting God with each step, even when the path ahead is unclear. The world often tells us that if we can just plan enough, know enough, or work hard enough, we can secure the future we want. But Scripture calls us to a different way—a way of surrender, where we follow the One who made our hearts rather than simply following our own desires. In seasons of uncertainty, God invites us to let go of our need for control and to trust His faithfulness, just as He called Abraham to leave behind the familiar and step into the unknown. [12:53]

Genesis 12:1 (ESV)
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.”

Reflection: Where in your life are you clinging to control instead of surrendering to God’s leading? What would it look like to release that area to Him today?

Day 2: Take the Next Right Step in Obedience

Faith is not about having complete clarity on the future, but about taking the next right step in obedience to God in the present moment. When life feels unstable and the future is uncertain, it’s easy to become paralyzed by fear or overwhelmed by the need to have everything figured out. Yet God doesn’t require us to see the whole path—He simply asks us to trust Him enough to do what He has clearly shown us to do right now. Like Abraham, we are called to move forward, one step at a time, even when we don’t know where the journey will ultimately lead. [11:52]

Hebrews 11:8 (ESV)
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.

Reflection: What is one “next right thing” God is prompting you to do today, even if you don’t know the outcome? Will you take that step in faith?

Day 3: God’s Promises Shape Us to Bless Others

God’s promises are not just for our personal benefit—they are meant to shape us into people who can be a blessing to others. When God called Abraham, He promised to bless him, but the blessing was never meant to end with Abraham. Instead, God’s purpose was to make Abraham a conduit of blessing for the whole world. In the same way, our faith journey is not just about moving from point A to point B, but about being transformed into people who carry God’s purpose and extend His goodness to those around us. [24:03]

Genesis 12:2-3 (ESV)
“And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Reflection: Who is someone in your life you can intentionally bless this week, even if you feel inadequate or uncertain?

Day 4: Faith Grows Through Imperfect, Persistent Obedience

Even Abraham’s obedience was imperfect, yet God honored his willingness to take the first step. We often think we need to have flawless faith or perfect obedience to please God, but the story of Abraham reminds us that God works through our weaknesses and failures. What matters most is not that we never stumble, but that we keep moving forward in trust, taking one obedient step at a time. God’s faithfulness is not dependent on our perfection, but on His unchanging character. [22:20]

Romans 4:20-21 (ESV)
No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.

Reflection: In what area of your life have you been waiting for perfect conditions before obeying God? How can you take a step forward today, trusting Him with the outcome?

Day 5: Becoming the Right Person Matters More Than Being Right

God calls us not just to do the right things, but to become the right kind of people—humble, surrendered, and willing to die to ourselves so that we can reflect Jesus to the world. In a culture that prizes being right, winning arguments, and seeking personal gain, God invites us to embrace humility and transformation. The journey of faith is about letting God shape our character so that we can be a blessing, even when it means letting go of pride, anger, or the need to be seen as right. [20:48]

Philippians 2:3-5 (ESV)
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.

Reflection: Is there a situation where you have been more focused on being right than on becoming like Jesus? What would it look like to choose humility and love in that situation today?

Sermon Summary

Faith is not about having all the answers or controlling every outcome; it’s about taking the next right step in obedience to God, even when the path ahead is unclear. Throughout history and in our own lives, we are tempted to believe the myth that certainty comes from control. Yet, Scripture consistently calls us to surrender—not to follow our own hearts, but to follow the One who made them. Abraham’s story in Genesis is a powerful example of this. He was called to leave behind the familiar, to step into the unknown, and to trust God’s faithfulness without a detailed map or timeline. His journey began not with perfect obedience or complete understanding, but with a willingness to move forward, one step at a time.

Life is filled with uncertainty—economic instability, relational strain, personal loss, and the ever-present reality of change. In these moments, the temptation is to grasp for control, to plan and organize our way into a sense of security. But God invites us into a different way: to do the next right thing He has made clear, even if it feels risky or incomplete. Faith grows not by seeing the whole picture, but by trusting God with each step, allowing Him to shape us into people who can carry His purposes.

Abraham’s call was not just about reaching a destination; it was about becoming someone through whom God could bless the world. The promise given to Abraham was both personal and global—God would bless him, but also make him a blessing to others. This is the pattern for all who follow God: faith is both directional (moving when God says move) and transformational (becoming the kind of person God can use). The journey may be marked by delayed obedience, imperfection, and uncertainty, but God’s faithfulness remains constant.

In a world that prizes self-reliance and personal fulfillment, God’s call is countercultural. True fulfillment is found not in seeking our own comfort or clarity, but in surrendering to God’s leading, trusting His promises, and letting Him use our lives to bless others. The question for each of us is simple, though not easy: Will we trust God enough to take the next right step, even when we cannot see the whole path?

Key Takeaways

1. Surrender, Not Control: The myth that certainty comes from control is deeply ingrained in our culture, but God calls us to surrender instead. True faith is not about managing every variable or securing our own outcomes, but about releasing our grip and trusting the One who holds the future. Surrender is the soil in which faith grows, and it is the first step toward genuine obedience. [12:17]
2. Faith Begins in the Unknown: Abraham’s journey started in the midst of loss, unfinished plans, and uncertainty. God’s call often comes when we are in the “in-between,” asking us to move forward without a full understanding of what lies ahead. Faith is not the absence of doubt or fear, but the willingness to take the next step God has made clear, even when the destination is hidden. [17:53]
3. Obedience Over Perfection: Abraham’s obedience was imperfect—he didn’t leave all his relatives behind as God commanded, and his journey was marked by delays and detours. Yet, God honored his willingness to take the first step. Our faith does not require flawless execution, but a heart that is willing to move forward in obedience, trusting that God can work through our imperfections. [22:20]
4. Faith Is Both Directional and Transformational: God’s promise to Abraham was not just about reaching a new land, but about becoming a person through whom God could bless the world. Faith means moving when God says move (directional), but also allowing God to shape our character and purpose (transformational). The journey of faith is as much about who we become as where we go. [25:13]
5. Blessing Flows Through Trust: God’s blessings are never meant to terminate on us; they are given so that we might be a blessing to others. When we trust God enough to step out in faith, even in uncertainty, He uses our lives to impact those around us. The call is not just to receive, but to become conduits of God’s grace and hope in a world marked by uncertainty. [26:40]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:23] - The Myth of Certainty and the Call to Surrender
[01:56] - Opening to Genesis: Setting the Scene
[03:02] - Breadmaking and the Journey Into the Unknown
[08:20] - Facing Uncertainty in Our World
[10:46] - Doing the Next Right Thing
[11:24] - Faith Is Not About Clarity
[12:17] - The Lie of Control vs. Surrender
[13:07] - Meeting Abraham in the In-Between
[14:52] - Family Tension and Unfinished Journeys
[16:33] - Stephen’s Retelling and Abraham’s Call
[18:20] - God’s Command: Go Into the Unknown
[20:07] - Uncertainty in Everyday Life
[22:20] - Imperfect Obedience and God’s Faithfulness
[24:03] - God’s Promise: Blessing for the World
[25:13] - Directional and Transformational Faith
[26:40] - Becoming a Blessing to Others
[29:24] - Faith Is About Obedience, Not Clarity
[31:06] - Will You Take the Next Right Step?

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Genesis 12:1-4 (ESV) — > Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

Observation Questions

What specific instructions did God give to Abram in Genesis 12:1? What details did God leave out?
According to the sermon, what was Abraham’s situation when God called him? What kind of “in-between” or uncertainty was he facing? ([13:16])
How did Abraham respond to God’s call, and what does the text say about his obedience? ([24:18])
What was the purpose behind God’s promise to Abraham—was it only for Abraham, or did it have a bigger goal? ([24:35])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God chose not to give Abraham a detailed map or timeline for his journey? What might this reveal about God’s character and how He works with us? ([18:30])
The sermon says, “Faith is not about having complete clarity on what to do... Faith is actually about taking the next right step in obedience to God in the present.” How does this challenge the way people usually think about faith and decision-making? ([11:24])
Abraham’s obedience was imperfect—he didn’t leave all his relatives behind as God commanded. Why do you think God still honored Abraham’s willingness to take the first step? ([22:20])
The promise to Abraham was both personal and global. What does this teach us about the way God’s blessings are meant to work in our lives? ([25:13])

Application Questions

The sermon talks about the “myth that certainty comes from control.” In what areas of your life do you find yourself grasping for control instead of surrendering to God? What would it look like to let go in one of those areas this week? ([12:17])
Abraham was called to step into the unknown. Is there a situation in your life right now where you feel God is asking you to take a step without knowing all the details? What is holding you back? ([18:20])
The idea of “doing the next right thing” is simple but not always easy. What is one “next right thing” you sense God is asking you to do, even if it feels risky or incomplete? ([10:46])
The sermon mentions that faith is both directional (moving when God says move) and transformational (becoming the kind of person God can use). Which of these do you find more challenging, and why? ([25:13])
Abraham’s obedience was imperfect, but he still moved forward. How do you deal with the fear of making mistakes or not being “perfect” in your obedience? ([22:20])
God’s promise to Abraham was that he would be a blessing to others. Who in your life right now could use encouragement, help, or hope? What is one practical way you could be a blessing to them this week? ([26:40])
The sermon asks, “Will you trust God enough to take the next right step, even when you cannot see the whole path?” What would it look like for you to answer “yes” to that question in your current season of life? ([31:06])

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What does faith primarily involve in uncertain times

How does surrender contrast with self-reliance in faith

Why is obedience more important than clarity in following God

Part 1: Faith in the Face of the Unknown (Genesis 11:27–12:4)