"By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went." Hebrews 11:8. Abraham's unquestioning obedience is one of the most striking evidences of faith to be found in all the Bible. To him, faith was "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Verse 1. Relying upon the divine promise, without the least outward assurance of its fulfillment, he abandoned home and kindred and native land, and went forth, he knew not whither, to follow where God should lead. "By faith he became a sojourner in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise." Hebrews 11:9, R.V.

Guds budskab lød til Abraham: "Drag ud fra dit land, fra din slægt og din faders hus til det land, jeg vil vise dig." 1. Mos. 12, 1. For at Gud kunne gøre ham skikket til den store gerning som de hellige forskrifters bevarer, måtte Abraham skilles fra dem, han havde levet sammen med i sine yngre dage. Indflydelsen fra slægt og venner ville påvirke den undervisning, Herren havde i sinde at give sin tjener. Nu, da Abraham på en særlig måde var knyttet til Himmelen, skulle han bo blandt fremmede. Han skulle have en særegen karakter, der adskilte sig fra alle andres. Han kunne ikke engang forklare sin handlemåde, så hans venner kunne forstå den. Åndelige ting skal forstås åndeligt, og hans afgudsdyrkende slægtninge kunne ikke forstå hans motiver og handlinger.