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Abram

Scholar’s Compass Unchartered Territories: Faith

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. . . . so Abram went, as the Lord had told him. – Genesis 12:1,4a (NIV)

Reflection

Faith. To be or not to be, that is the question. Either you will use it or you won’t; either you will love it or you won’t. But whether you have it or you won’t is not a question for all are given faith. It’s a gift.

Personally, I love it and hate it at the same time. I love it when I utilize my faith (when I have confidence in what I hope for and the assurance that I will receive it even though I don’t see it) for something miniscule like a parking space. I hate it when I am called to use the same principal for something that feels like a 1,100 mile journey from Ur to Canaan, like chapter planting.

Image courtesy of xura at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image courtesy of xura at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

In 2010, I agreed to survey the land at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Howard was an important location for Black Scholars and Professionals (BSAP), Graduate and Faculty Ministry (GFM), because BSAP had not planted on campus at what is referred to as a “Historically Black College or University (HBCU).” I agreed because I had never heard of InterVarsity before, so I figured what a great way to get acclimated into the ministry (and besides, I really wanted to participate in their Australia global mission project). Well, four years later I have yet to get to Australia, and I am still surveying the land. Actually, we are now in the process of becoming affiliated. It was nothing but faith to keep the journey going. [Read more…] about Scholar’s Compass Unchartered Territories: Faith

Scholar’s Compass Unchartered Territories: Obedience

Image courtesy of porbital at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image courtesy of porbital at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. . . . so Abram went, as the Lord had told him. – Genesis 12:1,4a (NIV)

Reflection

When last we met, Abram had heard the call of God and went as the Lord had told him. Now, to be fair, Abram did not go completely blind. In Genesis 12:2-3, God says:

“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 whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

Not a bad deal, you agree? I wonder if Abram would have still entered into the agreement minus the promise of greatness. [Read more…] about Scholar’s Compass Unchartered Territories: Obedience

Scholar’s Compass Unchartered Territories: Hearing God’s Voice

Image courtesy of xura at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image courtesy of xura at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. . . . so Abram went, as the Lord had told him. – Genesis 12:1,4a (NIV)

Reflection

Just reading the above scripture makes me wonder if Abram was a supernatural being or a superhero. The Lord said, so Abram went. The Lord said to leave everything of comfort and familiarity and go to a new place unexplored. Abram heard God and he went. No fuss, no fight, no fear. If it was me, in my human frailty, the outcome may have been different. As a matter of fact, the outcome was different. As one called to go forth into the unknown and plant a graduate chapter, I must say that my story went something like this . . . “The Lord said, ‘Go’ and she . . . hesitated.” As an educator and seminary graduate, my logic preceded my faith. I approached this call in the context of inductive reasoning. I needed to know who, what, when, how, why, cause and effect. But not Abram. He heard and he went forth leaving the familiar for the unknown for the sake of planting in a new land; planting in order to expand the mission and purpose of God.

At this very moment, you may find yourself at a place where you think you have heard God ask you to walk into the unknown. But because the request seems beyond your capabilities, you vacillate between thinking and going. You begin to question the validity of God’s call for you. You think it is time to move on from your postdoc and enter the challenges of the academic job market, or you think it is time to leave the secure and familiar land of full-time employment for the new land of graduate study.

The more insane the mission, the more clarity we seek from God. Until we receive the clarity that we desire, we remain thinking and not going. We want God to be as clear with us as God was with Abram. As done for King Belshazzar, we want God to write the message upon the wall (Daniel 5). Was Abram a superhero or supernatural? No, he was not. He was, however, connected to the character of God. He was God’s sheep and he knew the voice of his shepherd. Abram, through the relationship that he had formed with God, he knew God. He knew the God of unusual requests thanks probably to the character witness of Noah.

When we know God through the intimacy of prayer, listening, and studying, we learn to not only hear the voice of our shepherd but to trust. We begin to trust in the nudging that won’t go away; the vision that won’t seem to disappear; and the boldness to serve Christ in territories unknown and perhaps even uninhabited (John 10). We often think that if only we could hear God we would know what God wants. In actuality, when we know what God wants (which is God’s will), we will hear God’s voice more clearly because we will be able to identify the voice of God over and beyond any other. What does God’s voice sound like? God’s word. Abram knew and he followed “as the Lord told him.” What has God told you and are you willing to go in obedience?

Abram travelled 1100 miles from Ur to Caanan; not an overnight trip by far. In the next part, I will share how hearing plus obeying does equal immediate results. You may just have to walk 1100 miles to get there.

Question

As a graduate student or as faculty, you may find it close to impossible to develop your ear for God’s voice due to time and obligations. But recognizing that, as sheep, our total dependence comes from the shepherd, what sacrifices will you make and commit to so that you may hear beyond what your eyes may see?

Prayer

Dear God,

We thank you for your call. We ask that you begin to increase our ability to hear so that when you lead, we will follow without hesitation or vacillation. Move us from thinking to going at all times and in all seasons.

In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.