The Life of AbrahamSample

Partial Obedience

According to the recap in Stephen’s speech about Israel’s history in Acts chapter 7, God appeared to Abram (whose name was later changed to Abraham) in his hometown of Ur. God told Abram to leave his family and country behind, and relocate to the land of Canaan, which would later be known as the Promised Land.

Abram obeys... somewhat. He leaves his home in Ur but does not leave his family behind. Abram takes his father with him, along with his nephew Lot, and they do not make it to the land God had in mind. They get about halfway there and settle in Haran.

God didn’t reprimand Abram for not obeying fully. In Haran, God called Abram to leave his home and his father’s household once again. This time, when he leaves, his father stays behind.

Abram is now closer to full obedience—when he and Lot part ways in the Promised Land.

We are often in partial obedience. Our journey is a lot like Abram’s sometimes. His story, however, is incredibly encouraging. Throughout the progression from partial to complete obedience, Abram is blessed by God. He is even called God’s friend! God nurtures, nudges, and encourages him; when Abram shows partial obedience, God seems to say, “This is a good step. Here is one further.”

You and I are like Abram in Haran. Even when we obey partially, God remains steadfast in His calling. We still have the opportunity to move forward. Like Abram, God has promised us great blessings for obedience, but we have to first leave places of comfort to truly experience those blessings.

The word Haran in Hebrew means “crossroads.” Regarding our relationship to God, we are always at a fork on the road, needing to make a decision—do we trust God with our next step, or is this the step where we say, “I know best on this one?” 

Do you identify with Abram at Haran, God’s disciple standing at a crossroad with a decision to make? Will you fully trust God?