Not Knowing Whither
"Not Knowing Whither" emerged from Oswald Chambers' spoken ministry during his final years, compiled posthumously by his wife Biddy Chambers from her stenographic records of his Bible studies and talks. The title draws from Hebrews 11:8, referencing Abraham's call to leave his homeland "not knowing whither he went," and reflects Chambers' sustained meditation on the nature of faith as absolute surrender to God's will without demanding clarity about outcomes or destinations.
The work centers on what Chambers calls "reckless reliance upon God" — a faith that moves forward in obedience without requiring understanding of God's purposes or methods. Chambers argues that spiritual maturity involves releasing our demand to comprehend God's ways and instead cultivating what he terms "confident ignorance." He distinguishes between intellectual certainty, which he sees as a barrier to genuine faith, and the deeper certainty that comes from knowing God's character even when his specific will remains obscure. Throughout, Chambers emphasizes that God's silences are as instructive as his revelations, and that periods of spiritual darkness often precede the most significant advances in discipleship. He explores how biblical figures from Abraham to the disciples exemplified this willingness to act on God's word without full knowledge, treating uncertainty not as a problem to be solved but as the very arena in which faith operates.
"Not Knowing Whither" has remained influential among Christians seeking to understand how faith functions in the midst of life's inevitable ambiguities and God's apparent hiddenness. Chambers' insistence that mature faith requires embracing mystery rather than demanding explanations continues to challenge believers who equate spiritual growth with increased certainty. Who should read this: Christians struggling with unanswered prayers, unclear guidance, or the silence of God will find Chambers' perspective both challenging and liberating, though those seeking practical decision-making frameworks or systematic theology may find his mystical approach frustrating.