Blind Faith

If there is ever a story of true “blind faith” in the Bible it is the story of Rebekah. I will not be inserting the entire story into our post today, but I urge you to go to Genesis 24 and read her amazing story. Here is a young woman going about her daily business of household chores when in many ways she is seemingly blindsided by the plans and purposes of the Lord. Who, but the Lord, could even fathomed that a simple trip to the well to get water for her family would change her whole life? This is a chore she has done everyday, and probably for many years with every other trip being mundane and uneventful. But God had other plans this particular day. What amazes me most about this story is not that she was asked for her hand in marriage by a complete stranger, but rather that she was ready and willing to be obedient to walk right through the doors the Lord had for her when they swung wide opened. She did not so much as hesitate when she was asked if she would go. Her response was simple and clear. “I will go.” 

"I will go."

Let’s stop and think about just how crazy this is for just one second by putting this into today’s standards. How many of us would go to the grocery store and be willing to bring home an offer of marriage to our parents from a complete stranger? As if that’s not enough to make us run away and scream “no way” at the top of your lungs, bear in mind, the man Rebekah was to marry was not on the journey. He was no where to be be seen. Rebekah did not get to meet her groom until much later! So not only do we come home from the grocery store with a complete stranger who has an offer of marriage, but the man we are getting the offer from is not even there to meet our parents! Would we say yes so quickly? And if we manage to say yes, would we travel back with this stranger on this long journey? In that day and age, they traveled by camel, so the journey was long and hard. Their trip could have taken days if not weeks. So again, how many of us would leave our family, follow a stranger to a far away land to marry a man we have never met? Crazy right? But when God opens doors for us it is so very important that we do not slam them shut in his face because we think it’s crazy. Rebekah could have easily done that. She could have easily started trying to wrap her mind around this situation and could have easily justified her way right out of it. Remember, her parents did ask her if she was willing to go. She had the opportunity to yell “NO WAY” at the top of her lungs and run away screaming. But she chose to be obedient to the will of the Lord, and what a blessing it became for her! It is so very important that when the Lord opens doors for us that we don’t try to “wrap our minds around” what he is doing. This is not the time to turn to reasoning. It is in these moments that we are to trust that God knows what he is doing, take a deep breath, and walk right through the open door.

Is "blind faith" really reckless?

We envision “blind faith” to be reckless. But may I suggest that when we start to use reasoning to dictate where we will and will not walk rather than trusting in the Lord that we actually are being more reckless than if we would just trust and obey. Here is why trusting God “blindly” works out so much better for us than trying to rely on sound judgments and reasonings. God knows all and sees all. He knows our tomorrow and our ten years from now. We do not know these things. We can only make judgments based upon what is now and what has been, not what is to come. I truly believe that we are in much better hands walking “blindly” with the Lord then we are walking with our eyes wide opened in our own reasonings. The Lord is never going to lead us somewhere only to harm or destroy us. He has so many good things planned for us even if they may seem crazy at the time the door opens. Let’s not be distracted by what looks crazy, but rather focus on what the Lord has planned for us to do and then simply do those things. 

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Lord, help us to see the doors that you are opening. Then, once we see them help us to, with “blind faith,” walk right through them without hesitation. We know you have good things in store for those who love you. You have plans to prosper us and not to harm us. Help us to be reminded of these verses when the doors you are asking us to walk through seem “crazy.” Help us to keep our focus on you and what you have planned for us. Help us not to reason our way out of your plans and purposes for our lives. We desire to walk in your ways. Let your will and not ours be done!