The answer is: He wasn't told

Gen 12:2 / Heb 11:8

Abraham's journey is truly remarkable! Picture it: one day, a guy just living his life gets a visit from the divine. “Pack your bags, Abraham,” God tells him, “and head out—I’ll let you know when you get there.” It wasn't a detailed map or a comfortable itinerary but rather an enormous leap of faith into the unknown. This ambiguity didn’t thwart Abraham. Instead, it highlights a central theme in the scriptures: trust.

From the get-go, Abraham is the quintessential example of faith in action—believing without seeing, walking without knowing the ultimate destination. This story echoes in many spiritual narratives, depicting the centrality and strength of faith amidst uncertainty. Interestingly, Hebrews 11:1 reminds us that faith is “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”—Abraham embodies that!

As we dig deeper, we notice that the city he left, Ur of the Chaldeans, was considered highly advanced for its time, bustling with trade and innovation. Here, he traded comfort and security for the unpredictable wilderness. Think about it: by taking this leap, he not only became the father of a great nation but also set a precedent for generations to follow—a true testament that sometimes the greatest journeys start with questions rather than answers. His encounter with the divine reminds us all to trust the journey of life—it's about the experience, not just the destination.