Weekly Devotionals

Parashat Lech Lecha speaks of a deep walk of faith, a journey where Abraham leaves behind everything familiar for an unknown destination that God will show him.

Interestingly, Abraham’s father, Terah, had set out for the land of Canaan earlier, but ended up settling in Haran along the way. Perhaps it was the loss of his son, Haran, that led Terah to remain in familiar surroundings rather than press forward during his season of grief. One cannot help but wonder: did God call Abraham after Terah failed to fully answer God’s call to the very same journey to the Promised Land with a ready, “Here I am; I will follow”?

Soon after Abraham sets out, a severe famine strikes, forcing a detour to Egypt where the fertile Nile offers a safe refuge. At first glance, this unexpected change of plans seems to delay the promise, and an anxious heart might view it as a setback to God’s plan. In hindsight, however, we see that this delay was only temporary: a response to earthly challenges that were bound to pass. Ultimately, it reminds us that while hardships are temporary, God’s promises carry eternal value.

Abraham’s detour to Egypt foreshadows the journey made by Jacob’s sons some two centuries later, just as the plagues on Pharaoh’s household anticipate Israel’s future departure for the Promised Land. Both stories begin with physical hunger, yet in both, God faithfully leads His people back to the Land of Promise known to us today as Israel.

Heavenly Eyes

Later, Abraham and Lot decide to part ways, as the land can no longer support their combined households. Graciously, Abraham allows Lot first choice. Lot “lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt,” (Genesis 13:10). Looking with his physical eyes, Lot chose the most appealing region, the place where the grass appeared greener. Though the Jordan Valley looked “like the garden of the Lord” on the outside, its culture was spiritually empty, driven by worldly desire rather than God’s Spirit.

This left Abraham with the less lush, less watered land: the exact place God intended for him:

Just as Lot had raised his eyes, God now invites Abraham to look up and truly embrace what physical sight might have dismissed as “less desirable”. It may not have been Lot’s preference, but it was God’s chosen place for Abraham.

While the Jordan Valley offered abundant natural resources that allowed people to rely on their own prosperity, the land given to Abraham required a constant dependence on God for basic sustenance. Water for the harvests, the flocks, and the people depended directly on rain, encouraging the community to lean on the Lord every day.

Where human sight seeks immediate beauty and comfort, God calls us to develop spiritual vision: to see beyond current realities and envision what can be when we step out in faith. God takes note of Abraham’s trust:

In the same way, even if we cannot see beyond our circumstances, or when unexpected detours interrupt our path, we are invited to look beyond the immediate and trust His promises.

The New Testament echoes this same call, reminding us that our journey is guided by dynamic trust and eyes that see beyond our earthly perception:

When we fix our gaze on Him, we gain the perspective needed to take the next step forward, even when following His guidance means setting aside our own immediate desires.

Reflection

Where in your daily decisions, at work, home, or in your relationships, are you choosing what is easy over what is right? It’s natural to pick the comfortable path, but true progress comes when we choose patience, integrity, and trust in God over quick fixes. This week, when faced with a choice, look past immediate convenience. Take one small, practical step of faith, trusting that God’s way builds lasting peace and stability for your everyday life.