12 The Lord had said to Abram, ‘GO FROM YOUR COUNTRY, YOUR PEOPLE AND YOUR FATHER’S HOUSEHOLD to the land I will show you.‘ Genesis 12:1
Following God’s Call may well involve Separation (Country, People or Family) and also Sacrifice (Cost). Abram wasn’t told where he was TO GO, he was just told to get up and set out, perhaps in a general direction. God’s Call may seem ludicrous to those around us because we don’t have any details, (which is walking by sight) just the strong urge to step out in obedience. God’s Call should be progressive and may come at any season of our lives. We all have free will and often His Call may not be picked up. (Apparently Reinhard Bonnke was the Lord’s third choice as a missionary to the continent of Africa and he committed his life to evangelising it’s people for the Lord.)
27 This is the account of Terah’s family line.
Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot. 28 While his father Terah was still alive, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, in the land of his birth. Genesis 11
Terah, the father of Abram had three sons, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeas, the land of his birth. He never left the physical place of his birth. Abram and Nahor accompanied their father to Haran.
31 Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Harran, they settled there.
32 Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Haran. Genesis 11
Abram’s father moved the family in the direction of Canaan, the eventual place of God’s inheritance for Abram and his offspring. Our family may have moved ‘part of the way’ God has for us, but when the time comes God may ask and insist that we complete the journey to His final destination. Once again, others may not understand that we have been called to go further than previous generations. Being willing to step out and go further than the rest of our family may be a very difficult step for those who are committed to following the Lord.
Finally, Abram’s own call did come and he set out with his nephew Lot and his wife Sarai whose beauty almost caused him a lot of trouble. There is no doubt that God blessed Lot along with Abram, but eventually they did come to a place of separation. We also may walk closely with people for a time or a season, but God may not permit others to be with us (even family) when we finally step into the centre of God’s Call upon our lives. Separation may not be pleasant, but it may be necessary.
God bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.