Moving is always challenging. Even if where you are going is a desired, God-directed place. Saying goodbye to people, places, and things is difficult. There is always grief. Several years ago, I retired after thirteen years of teaching at a Christian university. It was a good move. I was able to spend more time with family, speaking and writing. However, there was deep sadness over losing contact with students and daily connection with colleagues. This move was difficult, but it did not require courage. 

Contrastingly, Rebekah’s move was a testament to her immense courage. At a tender age, around thirteen or fourteen, she embarked on a journey of 2,000 miles, a journey she would likely never return from. She left  her family, accompanied a stranger, endured a four-month camel ride, and married a forty-year-old man she had never met. Today, such a decision might be deemed foolish and perilous, but for Rebekah, it displayed unwavering faith and courage.  

When her family asked, “Are you willing to go with this man?” 

She replied with clarity and faith, “Yes, I will go” (Genesis 24:57-58).

We speak of Abraham’s faith in leaving Ur of the Chaldees, but he took his family and his possessions with him. He didn’t leave everything. 

Rebekah’s faith is a beacon of inspiration. She chose to live among strangers in a foreign land, leaving behind everything familiar, all because she felt the guiding hand of God and obeyed His call. Her faith, her trust in God’s guidance, is a powerful reminder of the strength that comes from surrendering to the unknown when God is leading. It prompts me to question my own willingness to trust God when I step into uncharted territory. 

What about you? When have you moved in response to God’s guidance? When have you trusted God even though people might think you were risky or fool-hardy?