INTRODUCTION
If there’s one thing we all love, it’s certainty. We want the GPS to tell us exactly how many minutes it will take until we arrive. We want Amazon packages to come on the day promised, not a day later. We want doctors to tell us what’s wrong and how to fix it with one little pill. We live in a culture that craves instant clarity, guarantees, and tracking numbers for everything.
But life rarely comes with tracking numbers. When it does, the package is usually late, dented, and left on your neighbor’s porch.
Life requires faith. In today’s world, not just any kind of faith, but brave faith. Brave faith is different than the easy faith we talk about when everything’s comfortable. Brave faith is the kind that steps into the unknown, the confusing, the difficult, the risky. It’s the kind that hears God’s voice and says, “Here I am, Lord, send me.”
Over the next four weeks, we will journey with men and women in Scripture who modeled this brave faith. Each one of them shows us what it looks like to follow God into the unknown.
• Week One: Abraham’s Risk – He left everything familiar to follow God into a land he didn’t know, because God promised something greater.
• Week Two: Esther’s Courage – She stepped into the king’s court uninvited, risking her life, because God had positioned her “for such a time as this.”
• Week Three: Daniel’s Stand – He refused to bow, refused to hide, and chose faithfulness even when the lions were waiting.
• Week Four: Apostles’ Boldness – Ordinary men who declared, “We must obey God rather than men,” even when obedience meant persecution that could lead to death.
These aren’t fairy tales. These are real people who faced real risk, real fear, and real opposition. Yet their faith did not shrink back. That’s the kind of faith God is calling us to today. Over the next few weeks, we will explore what this looks like in modern life. How do you follow when the map is blank? How do you stand when the pressure is crushing? How do you speak up when silence feels safer? How do you risk it all for the One who risked it all for you?
Most of us want brave faith without the risk part. We pray, “Lord, give me faith,” but what we really mean is, “Lord, give me faith with a seatbelt, a helmet, and full insurance coverage.” We want adventure as long as it comes with Wi-Fi, indoor plumbing, and an easy exit strategy.
It reminds me of that moment when someone says, “Hey, let’s go camping.” Sounds fun, right? Until you realize that means hiking twelve miles uphill, carrying a backpack that feels like a small Volkswagen, and sleeping in a tent that somehow always finds the one rock under your sleeping bag. Suddenly, you think, “Why didn’t I just stay home where the couch is safe and DoorDash delivers the food?”
Faith often feels the same way. God calls, and at first it sounds exciting. But then you realize He didn’t hand you a five-step plan, a detailed itinerary, or even a guarantee that things will go smoothly. That’s when the questions creep in: What if I fail? What if I’m not enough? What if I didn’t hear Him correctly?
When God called Abraham, He didn’t give Abraham a brochure. There was no glossy travel guide. No realtor showing him around the neighborhood. No Yelp reviews for the local restaurants. All Abraham had was a call and a promise. The call was simple: “Go.” The promise was powerful: “I will show you.”
Imagine explaining that to your spouse. “Honey, pack up. We’re moving.”
“Oh? Where are we going?”
“No idea.”
“Why are we going?”
“Because God said so.”
“What’s the plan?”
“He didn’t give me one.”
“How long will we be gone?”
“Forever.”
That’s an awkward family meeting. Yet Abraham went. That’s brave faith.
Here’s why this matters for us: every one of us is called to our own Abraham moment. It may not mean moving to another country, but it might mean starting a new ministry when you feel unqualified. It might mean forgiving someone when you’d rather hold the grudge. It might mean walking away from security into the uncertainty of trusting God’s plan and provision.
Abraham’s obedience didn’t just affect him; it shaped human history. Brave faith isn’t about knowing the destination; it’s about trusting the God who calls us to the unknown, believing He is already there. So let’s dive into brave faith.
Genesis 12:1–9 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. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord. And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb.
SCRIPTURAL ANALYSIS
VERSES 1-3
Abram (later Abraham) lived in Ur of the Chaldeans, one of the most advanced cities of the ancient world. Ur had libraries, schools, and thriving trade routes. To leave Ur meant leaving prosperity, security, and family identity. These things that anchored a person in the ancient Near East. A man’s “father’s household” was his identity, inheritance, and protection. Leaving this behind was not just inconvenient; it was social and financial suicide by cultural standards.
In Abram’s time, significance was derived from family lineage, land ownership, and offspring. Yet Abram was childless, making God’s promise sound impossible. God promised not only descendants but historical influence as Abram’s name would be known among the nations. Abram, a wandering nomad, would receive a “great name” not by might but by covenant.
In the ancient Near Eastern worldview, blessings and curses were serious matters, often tied to covenants between tribes or nations. To promise divine blessing and protection over Abram was to elevate him above worldly alliances. This also establishes Israel’s unique role in redemptive history. God’s plan to bless all nations through Abram’s line.
Faith begins with a call to leave. Brave faith means loosening our grip on earthly security to take hold of God’s promises. Abram’s obedience shows us that God often uproots us before He plants us in His plan.
VERSES 4-6
Seventy-five is considered advanced age. Most would be preparing for rest, not relocation. Yet Abram uprooted his household, livestock, and servants to follow a God he could not see, into a land he did not know.
Abram was not a lone wanderer. He moved with family, servants, and herds, forming a small tribe. Moving such a caravan was a logistical challenge, fraught with dangers from bandits, harsh terrain, and scarce resources. “People they had acquired” likely refers to household servants or dependents who lived under Abram’s care. The journey to Canaan was over 400 miles, no small task without modern transportation.
The “oak of Moreh” was likely a Canaanite religious site, possibly used for idol worship. Shechem was a significant city in central Canaan. Mentioning the Canaanites emphasizes that the land was already occupied. Abram wasn’t entering a vacant territory. This highlights the risk: Abram is a foreigner in a strange land, surrounded by established powers.
VERSES 7-9
Land ownership in the ancient Near East was everything. It meant survival, legacy, and permanence. Yet God promised land to a man with no children. Abram’s building of an altar marks a bold public declaration: he worshiped Yahweh in the presence of the Canaanites. Altars were memorials. He was staking spiritual claims in a foreign world.
Abram pitched a tent and built an altar. His tent symbolized temporary dwelling; his altar symbolized eternal devotion. Nomads moved often, but altars remained as reminders of God’s presence and promises. Calling “on the name of the Lord” was a covenant act, identifying Yahweh as God amidst pagan nations.
The Negev was a harsh and dry desert region. Traveling there required resilience and faith, as survival was not guaranteed. Abram’s journey was ongoing. Abraham was still moving, still trusting, walking by faith.
Brave faith is not a single step but a continual journey. Following God means moving forward, even when the next stop looks barren. Faith is a way of life, not a fleeting moment.
TODAY’S KEY TRUTH
Brave faith steps into the unknown, trusting God is already there.
APPLICATION
When we step back and examine Abraham’s story, it almost reads like the beginning of an epic journey. God calls Abram out of everything familiar: his homeland, his family, his culture. Abram is living in Harran, surrounded by stability, security, and pagan religion. Then God says, “Go… to the land I will show you.” There is no map, no destination address, no timeline, just a call and a promise. Abram obeys. He takes Sarai, Lot, his household, his possessions, and sets out into the unknown.
When he arrives in Canaan, the situation does not look promising. The land is already occupied. The Canaanites are a strong, established, and deeply rooted people. Abram is a stranger with no land and no heir. Yet God appears to him and says, “To your offspring I will give this land.” Abram responds, not by arguing or asking for proof, but by building an altar. Then he continues, pitching tents, building altars, calling on the Lord, and moving forward into the desert. This is the rhythm of Abraham’s faith: leave, trust, worship, and keep going.
Each part of this story speaks volumes about what brave faith looks like. Abram left places of prosperity to embrace God’s unknown plan. Faith requires loosening our grip on comfort and security. Sometimes the hardest part of faith is not where God is leading, but what we must let go of and leave behind. God promised Abram descendants, even though Abram was childless at the time. He promised land while Abram was a nomad. Faith believes God’s word even when our circumstances look impossible. Abram built altars before the promises were fulfilled. He worshiped God not just after victory, but in the middle of waiting. He kept moving, even into barren places like the Negev. Faith is not a single act of obedience; it is a lifetime of trusting steps.
Now, let’s bring this into our world. We live in a time where uncertainty is the only certainty. The cultural, political, and social landscape of the United States feels as unsettled as Abram’s journey. Division runs deep. Trust in institutions is at a historic low. Violence, corruption, and fear dominate headlines. To be honest, most of us would prefer safety, security, and clarity. Yet God still calls His people to walk by faith.
For many believers, this will mean leaving behind the comfort of cultural Christianity. For generations, faith in America had often been accompanied by cultural support. It was expected, even respected, to be part of a church. That is no longer the case. Today, standing for biblical truth feels like standing against the culture. Like Abram surrounded by Canaanites, we live in a culture that admires sinful idols, celebrates murder as a personal right, and mocks holiness publicly. Brave faith means living distinctively, even though it makes us outsiders. Just as Abram was promised a land as an outsider, we are promised a Kingdom that is coming, unshakable and eternal. Brave faith does not despair when the news cycle and culture grow dark; it clings to God’s promises.
Brave faith also requires worship in the waiting. Abram built altars in hostile territory. In the same way, the church is called to worship boldly in a world that grows more hostile to truth. Every act of worship, every gathering of believers, every declaration that Jesus is Lord is a flag planted in the ground. It is saying, “We belong to God, and He is faithful.” This is a time for courageous believers who will step into uncertainty and stop being silent. This is a time to model trusting in God.
So what does this look like in practical terms? It means parents raising children to follow Christ even when schools and culture push in the opposite direction. It means business leaders leading with integrity when dishonesty seems easier. It means churches preaching the gospel with clarity when the world calls it offensive. It means believers loving their neighbors, serving their communities, and speaking the truth, even when it comes at a cost to their reputation, influence, or comfort. It might mean taking personal risks: starting something new God has placed on your heart, forgiving someone you’d rather hold a grudge against, or walking away from something that gives you security but robs you of obedience.
Our world is desperate for leaders and believers who embody brave faith. Not faith with guarantees, not faith with safety nets, but faith that steps into the unknown trusting God is already there. Because if God is already there, then the risk is not really risk at all: it is obedience. And obedience is always the safest place to be.
Brave faith steps into the unknown, trusting God is already there.
Conclusion
When you think about Abraham’s story, it’s easy to admire from a distance. He heard God’s call, he left everything familiar, and he walked into the unknown. But what about when it’s us? What about when God calls you to leave behind something comfortable, to risk stepping into uncertainty, to trust Him with no map and no safety net? That’s when faith stops being a theory and starts being real.
Over fifteen years ago, I was in the Middle East on a unique and extended mission trip. At the end of the trip, we were in Turkey debriefing a young couple who were IMB missionaries in Turkey. They shared their story of how they felt God stirring their hearts to serve as missionaries overseas. They had steady jobs, good insurance, a house, and two small children. Everyone around them said it was too risky, too dangerous, too uncertain. But they knew God was calling. So they sold their home, packed up their lives, and moved to a part of the world where following Christ is dangerous. The first months were hard, with a new language, a new culture, and fear for their kids’ safety. However, as they later told their story, they said something powerful: “We discovered that when you step into the unknown, you don’t find emptiness: you find God waiting for you.”
That’s the truth Abraham discovered. He didn’t know the land. He didn’t know the future. But he knew the One who called him. That was enough. It has to be enough for us, too. Brave faith is not about calculating risks or waiting until everything feels safe. Brave faith is about taking the next step because you’ll discover that when you step into the unknown, you don’t find emptiness: you find God waiting for you.
Brave faith steps into the unknown, trusting God is already there.
I don’t know what “unknown” God may be calling you into right now. For some, it might be a career change, stepping into a place that feels uncertain but where you sense God’s leading. For others, it may be sharing your faith with a friend, knowing it might change the nature of the relationship. It might be forgiving someone who hurt you, trusting God to heal what seems broken beyond repair. It could be leading your family differently, joining this church, serving in the church more actively, or even just saying “yes” to God when every part of you wants to stay in what feels familiar and comfortable.
Our culture tells us to play it safe, to protect ourselves at all costs, to only trust what we can see and control. Brave faith calls us to something different, even when it feels risky. Faith calls us to step out when the path is unclear, to trust God when the future feels uncertain, to worship when the promise hasn’t yet arrived. Faith calls us to believe that God is already in the unknown, waiting for us.
If Abraham could leave behind his known world, if that young couple could pack their lives into boxes and move to a place of danger, then surely we can take the next step of obedience before us. God is not asking you to figure out the whole journey. He is asking you to take the first step. That step might be terrifying, but it is also freeing. It’s freeing when you realize the weight of the journey is not on your shoulders, it is on His.
Brave faith steps into the unknown, trusting God is already there.
That truth is simple but life-changing. He was there for Abraham. He will be there for you.
So let me ask you: where is God calling you to trust Him? What step into the unknown is He placing before you? Will you cling to safety, or will you choose brave faith?
Today, choose to believe that God is already there waiting on you. Choose to trust that when God says, “Go,” He goes before and with us. Today, choose to believe that stepping into the unknown isn’t really risky when the God of all creation is already there waiting for you.
Brave faith steps into the unknown, trusting God is already there.
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