Month: July 2020

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – Genesis 12:2

Terah, Abraham’s father, set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when he got to Haran, he settled and eventually died there. Abraham, however, didn’t think of leaving Haran until God told him to leave there and embark on a journey to Canaan – the very place his father had intended to go. Although, Terah had initially desired to stay in Canaan, the Bible didn’t tell us that he got that inspiration from God. Unlike his father, Abraham’s decision to move out of his father’s house to the land of Canaan was God’s will. While Terah appeared to be like a man who followed his own will, Abraham, seemingly, was a man who depended on God’s will. Therefore, one can say that Terah symbolizes those who often think their future is in their hands whereas Abraham represents people who depend on God for direction in life.

If God was the one who asked Terah to move to Canaan, Terah wouldn’t have shortened his journey by settling in Haran. If he had been sent by God, Terah would have felt the need to fulfill God’s assignment no matter how challenging it was. Terah’s unfulfilled dream is an indication that he wasn’t inspired by God. If Terah’s journey had been initiated by God, most likely, the covenant would have been between him and God. Abraham, on the other hand, encountered a lot of challenges as he tried to fulfill God’s will. But, unlike his father, he never gave up because he was aware of the need to fulfill his own part of the deal with God. If God is asking you to fulfill an assignment, know that He would see you through. God will not ask you to do something that will not succeed in the end. Fear not!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am willing to do your will. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Genesis 12:4-9

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – Genesis 12:2

When God called Abraham, He said to him, “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.” Although, Abraham had to leave his country to Canaan, a place he didn’t know anything about, he was consoled by the promises that God made to him. Actually, God’s promise to Abraham was the only motivation he had. Abraham must have been excited with the fact that God was going to make him great. He must have felt good that God had chosen him to be the father of many nations. Recall that this was a man who didn’t have a child of his own. He might have thought his name would die with him. All of a sudden, God showed up and said, “I will make your name great…”

As I noted yesterday, Abraham already had a lot of possessions when God called him. So wealth wasn’t really his problem when God called him. His real problem was legacy. He needed an heir. God knew his problem. For that reason, God assured Abraham that his walk with Him will not only lead to a fruitful land but would result to him becoming the father of a great nation. When Abraham got that revelation, he got up and decided to follow God. That act of obedience might appear to be simple but if it wasn’t for Abraham, you and I wouldn’t have known Christ. By doing what God asked him to do, all peoples on earth have been blessed. Know that God is aware of your needs. He knows exactly what’s good for you. If God is asking you to embark on a journey with Him, comply even if it means losing everything you currently have.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, use me to save lives. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Genesis 12:2-3

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – Genesis 12:4

When God asked Abraham to leave his country and his father’s household to a land He would show him, Abraham left as he was instructed. The Bible didn’t say that Abraham objected. He complied even though he was already doing well in Haran. Recall that Abraham wasn’t poor and wretched before God called him. God didn’t meet him at a time he was in trouble or distressed. According to the scriptures, “He (Abraham) took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran…” (Genesis 12:5). In other words, Abraham left Haran as a wealthy man and then set out on a journey to a land he didn’t know. No doubt, Abraham took a leap faith as he followed God’s will. Indeed, it was a bold step; the kind of decision that many wouldn’t take.

Often, when God calls people, He does it at a time they do not expect. God might visit you at a time you are comfortable with your life. It might be at a time you are settling down in a particular field of endeavor, believing it is where you ought to be for life. So when God calls you, everything may seem strange because you would wonder why He would want to disrupt your career and peace. At such times, you might even be tempted to think the revelation you got is just a figment of your imagination. In handling such situations, be mindful of who you share your revelation with. Trying to get other people to interpret a revelation can get you off track. In fact, you might even have to be careful with what your mind is telling you. Whatever God tells you to do, do it in faith.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me a discerning heart. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Genesis 12:4-5

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – Genesis 12:4

Abraham’s father had intended to settle in Canaan land but his journey ended in Haran. The negative effect of that failed dream affected his son. Because Terah ended his journey in Haran, Abraham didn’t feel motivated to move on. Living in Haran, therefore, became normal to Abraham because his father couldn’t move beyond that city. Abraham became accustomed to “half-baked success.” For Abraham, it was a case of following a tradition that had been created by his father. Abraham might have thought; if my father couldn’t get to Canaan land, why should I? He might have resolved to stay in Haran, lead the family that his father had left, build his business and possibly adopt the culture of Haran. Clearly, Abraham didn’t have his own vision. Whatever it was that he had planned to do wasn’t really different from what his father had done. Haran then became his new country.

But just as Abraham was settling down, God showed up with a plan for him. God said to Abraham, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you” (Genesis 12:1). So Abraham left. We do not know how long it took Abraham before he obeyed God’s instructions. Also, the scriptures didn’t describe how Abraham had his first encounter with God. When He got that instruction, was it by revelation, vision or he had an encounter with the angel of God? The Bible didn’t say. But we know that when Abraham got that message, he obeyed. Possibly, like Abraham, you’ve had an encounter with God. Perhaps, you’ve been in your comfort zone for too long. You’ve been sitting in that room, thinking you can’t go beyond the limits that others have set. It’s time to do what God wants you to do!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me the courage to do what you want me to do. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Genesis 12:1-4

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – Genesis 11:32

Do you know that Terah (Abraham’s father) had intended to live in Canaan? The journey to Canaan didn’t begin with Abraham. The scriptures say, “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 Haran, they settled there” (Genesis 11:31). Instead of getting to his destination, Terah settled in Haran and died there. Although, he lived for 205 years, he couldn’t realize his dreams of getting to Canaan land. The Bible didn’t tell us why Terah couldn’t finish his journey. There’s no clear evidence that Terah changed his mind on getting to Canaan. However, he might have ended his journey in Haran for the reason that he changed his mind on Canaan or it could be that he became too comfortable with Haran.

Interestingly, Abraham didn’t make any move to live Haran until God called him. Possibly, after his father’s death, Abraham had decided to remain in Haran. Since, it wasn’t his idea to travel to Canaan; Abraham might have planned to remain in Haran. He might have reasoned that Canaan land wasn’t necessary because Haran was okay. Abraham might have decided to sustain his father’s legacy. Since his father ended his journey in Haran, Abraham might have thought it was right for him to follow his father’s footsteps. Initially, Abraham didn’t try to go beyond his father’s limits. But when God met him, everything changed. I don’t know what you are going through at the moment. Perhaps, like Abraham, you are trying to be like your father. I want you to know that God’s plan might be different from your father’s plans for you. Go beyond your father’s limits!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, May I not be limited by my father’s achievements. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Genesis 11:27-32

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.