For Abraham, leaving his home country and family wasn’t a pioneering expedition; it was just obedience to his God! This may not seem to be very significant nowadays because of our independence and ease of access to our loved ones. However, none of today’s privileges and conveniences were available to Abraham or his family. Abraham lived in a world where such actions were not celebrated.
The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. Genesis 12:1-4
In those days and in that culture leaving your home would not have had the positive connotations that it has now. First of all, he was a firstborn son, which meant his family would have looked to him for care and carrying the family name.
Secondly, Abraham’s family was well established. He had no intention of being adventurous. He was stepping out into the unknown out of obedience to God. He had no goals or ambitions that were driving him to be away from his homeland. His departure would have meant that he would not be able to see the people he left behind for the rest of his life!
How do we know it is time to move on from a commitment?
We all have a desire to be faithful to God. How can we be sure that we are moved out of faithfulness to God rather than our own selfishness?
The account of Abraham and the Prodigal son story (in Luke 15:11-32) give us a glimpse in the difference between following the finger of God rather than following the desires of self.
God spoke to Abraham about his departure, but the Prodigal Son was led by his own desires.
Abraham was already seventy-five years old. He had no ambitions for freedom and adventure. The Prodigal Son was young and selfish.
Abraham didn’t have to leave to become a father of many nations when he could have had a child where he was. He leaned on God not on his own understanding. On the other hand, the Prodigal Son had no promise from God. He just had the hopes of being an independent male adult living it up with his portion of the wealth. He leaned on his own understanding and what he could see with his natural eyes.
Abraham and the Prodigal son both went through hard times, but God’s grace was with Abraham. He never wondered if he should go back. The Prodigal Son’s situation went from bad to worse to the point of desiring to return to his father’s house as a servant.
The fruit of Abraham’s life shows obedience to God and an affirmation of God’s promises in His life. The fruit of Prodigal son’s life showed the destructive nature of selfishness and sin and the pathetic state that he was left at.
The good news is that the Prodigal son’s situation was redeemed when he came to his senses. If we have made mistakes in moving on our own desires, God’s forgiveness and redemption is available to put us back on the right track again.
Lord, help us to make commitments out of faithfulness to you. Help us to discern when you are asking us to move on from a commitment. We want to remain faithful to you regardless of the difficulty of the assignment.
