Obedience Can Be Disruptive

The LORD had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you.
"I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.  Genesis 12:1-5


Obedience can be rather disruptive. Imagine God speaking to you in the advanced years of your life when you are probably planning your retirement. Imagine Him giving you an assignment that requires you to completely disrupt your settled family life and move out to a totally foreign place to live amidst strangers. But then, this disruptive assignment comes with a promise: God assures you that He will take care of you; He will bless those who bless you; He will curse those who curse you; and through you, the entire earth will be blessed!

How would you respond? Would you hesitate to obey? Or would you uproot your family from familiar comfort and security and follow God's directives? Abraham completely uprooted and disrupted his life in obedience to God. He was radically obedient: "Abram went, as the LORD had told him . . . He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated . . . and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there."

Has God given you an assignment that seems frightening and disruptive? Take courage and set out on the path of obedience. It might be disruptive but God will stand with you and see you through. Our God is faithful and He will bless you just as He has promised; no matter how disruptive the journey might be!

Prayer: Father, I confess that there are times when obeying your word seems rather disruptive to my personal well-laid plans. Please help me to radically heed your voice, knowing that you will see me through. Amen.