This is especially puzzling because he wants us to know his will even more than we want to know it. He gains no advantage by withholding his will from us. Surely, the problem lies within us. He could give us all unmistakable dreams, visions. But most Christians will never have that kind of experience and we should all be cautiously skeptical about such claims.

Even the Apostle Paul had to act on what he understood of God's will, and then adjust his plans according to God's further guidance along the way. Acts 16 shows him returning to visit the Galatian churches on his second journey. That much was plain. The he tried to take the highway directly into Asia--certainly, to Ephesus. The door was closed. Roman military contingents were stationed at intervals all along the Roman highways. Maybe they forbade entry. Or weather conditions, or an epidemic, etc. Paul proceeds to Misia and again, is stopped. The only direction left was Troas, which almost certainly was not on Paul's itinerary. But God needed to get him there in order to lead him from Asia into Europe, to Philippi!

In much the same way, Abraham, that great man of faith, followed what was plain in God's will. He went to the land of Canaan. But there he wandered all around for some years seeking guidance as to where to settle--all the while, being tested in three areas: Could God protect in such a dangerous region? Could God provide for Abraham's large company? Could God keep his promises to bless all nations through him? It was all these dealings with God that ultimately made Abraham a man of faith.

But most Christians today have little idea how to seek and understand God's guidance.

If this is of interest for you, read the GO Paper, How to Understand God's Guidance