Read: Genesis 11:27—12:5
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.” Genesis 12:1
Many years earlier, Terah, Abraham’s father, had felt drawn to uproot his family from their home in Ur to travel to the promising land of Canaan. However, and for reasons unknown to us, Terah aborted the journey when he arrived in town Haran. Perhaps the journey had already taken too much of a toll on his family. Perhaps the kids complaining in the back of the caravan became too much for him. Or, it is entirely possible that Haran looked promising enough. Why risk going all the way to Canaan when it might not live up to Terah’s expectations? So Terah settled in Haran with his family, and his journey ended.
However, for Abraham, the journey was just about to begin. In the deep of the night, or from the depths of his heart—or from wherever it is that God is able to catch our attention—God began to call to Abram. “Go. Leave Haran behind. Follow Me to Canaan . . . You will be the father of many children. You will be blessed. And your life and legacy will be a blessing for the entire world.” Terah settled for less than what God called him to do and be, and he became no more than a footnote to history. Abraham traveled to Canaan and became the father of three great faith traditions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Like Terah, we will always be tempted to settle for less than God hopes for us. But thankfully, God has a way of shaking things up and presenting us with opportunities that can provide us with more than we ever dreamed. God has a way of drawing us into an adventure of faith where settlers become travelers who are blessed in the journey. All we need is a willingness to risk our present situation in order to embrace the promise of a future that God envisions for us.
Have you settled for less than God desires for you?
Lord, I have settling tendencies. Fill me with the vision and courage of a traveler. Help me to break from my present situation to take hold of the future You call me into. In Your name, I pray. AMEN.