As I developed in my early Christian walk with God, there were moments when I honestly (but wrongly) believed that God would need me to do things that I was completely in the dark about. I believed that he could send me on a mission or an errand and leave me absolutely clueless about everything – I just had to obey, no questions asked.
I think some of this thought process was based on my limited understanding of God’s call to Abraham in Genesis chapter 12 to follow His leading to a place He would show him, and on the ways this Biblical episode was taught. The episode that plays out in Genesis 22, where Abraham was instructed by God to (spoiler alert!) sacrifice his only son as an offering unto God upon a mountain which God would also show Abraham, was also one I misconstrued.
Not knowing exactly where God wants you to go or be does not and should never suggest that God is not who He says he is, or a rewarder of those who seek for him with all their heart and strength, or that He does not have a covenant of life and peace with you through His precious Son Jesus Christ.
Abraham’s faith wasn’t blind. His faith was put in Someone, the One, the Lord God, whose words, plans and promises were real. Before God ever requires faith, He makes sure to provide a basis for that faith – be it Himself, His nature, His word, His Son or His promises. And the list really could go on. So, faith in God can never be blind. What is blind about a real God?
With God and with faith, the hows and whys should not dominate our focus, even though they are critical considerations. The first and foremost considerations however should be what God has said or is saying and our belief in who He is. The Book of Luke chapter 1 verse 4 is enlightening in this regard. God wants certainty and clarity for us. He doesn’t want or need blind faith from us. Certainty based on who He is and what He has said or is saying is more profitable and admirable than blind faith. Blind faith is a consequence of not knowing Him and not having heard from Him.
On another note, I learned from this experience that having the tag of Christian does not somehow make me infallible or incapable of wrong beliefs or thought patterns. Christianity doesn’t strip me of my humanity or my capacity to misjudge or misbelieve. If anything, Christianity calls for and requires a constant renewing of the mind by God’s Holy Spirit. Romans chapter 12 and verse 2 says as much. To be sure, to be sure, the Book of Isaiah, in the Old Testament, shows God’s understanding of our changeable nature and His willingness to be a participant in our change. Chapter 1 and verse 18 of that book includes a call for us to reason together with God – a call to discuss and clarify. The Message translation puts it like this: “Let’s argue this out.”
Be blessed.
That Christian Next Door 