Leave Haran

Read |Genesis 11:31-32;12:1-3|

 When I was a child, my mother enrolled me in piano lessons. The first few days, weeks, months--and even years--were exhilarating. I was learning so much and it all seemed to stick! I would spend hours practicing and composing. But, then I hit the middle. And the middle was thick of challenge. I pressed in for a while, and then I quit. Not for me, I said. 

This weekend as I read Abraham's story, from Abram to Abraham, I was struck by chapters 31 and 32 of Genesis which read, "Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot (Haran's son), and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram's wife, and they set out together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there. Terah lived 205 years and died in Haran."  I was intrigued that Terah had it on his heart to live in the Promised Land, even before God had made the promise known to Abram--and even more so--that he had somehow stopped short of his goal. There isn't much information that follows, to satisfy the desire to know the motivation for Terah's choice, to have left Ur for Canaan, but stop in Haran. Was he unexpectedly pleased with Haran--so pleased that he abandoned all curiosity for the land that laid ahead? Was he so tired from the journey, that he sat down and never got back up? Was he convinced by his eyes that what he had once thought possible, was no longer possible? Did he consider the thick of challenge between Haran and Canaan, and say not me? Oh the questions that abound! Whatever, the motivation, God was not satisfied to have Abram remain there.

It is while in Haran, approximately 400 miles from Canaan, that God calls Abram out of Haran. He calls him out of the middle. He calls him onward to the Promised Land. He calls him out of his comfort zone. He calls him out of his complacency. He calls him to believe in what is unseen--even impossible. He calls him to where none in his family had ever gone.  And he is promised great things by the Lord: "I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you." (Genesis 12:1-4, CSB).

Abram answers the call: placing one foot before the other, as the Lord directs him. And for his obedience, God rewards him greatly. Abram, by faith, moved from the middle to the promised end. He moved from comfort to supernatural blessings and abundance. He moved from complacency to radical faith. For all he gave up, God added so much more! In the end it was said of Abraham, "He took his last breath and died at a good old age, old and contented, and gathered to his people." (Genesis 25:8 CSB).

Beloved, where is your Haran? Which resting place have you made your home? Beloved, today we pray your trust in God be increased, so that you will know He has set before you the best days of your life with Him. Today we pray your courage, that you will be made bold in God, to inhabit the promises He sets before you. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.