MOVE: Don't leave anything unfinished!!!!

I was talking to a really good friend earlier today (Gloria Jackson!!) when she shared with me part of my (previous) Pastor's message. Pastor Glen Jenkins spoke partly from Genesis 11 and of Abram (whom would go onto to be Abraham). She was excited to tell me about the message. How in Genesis 11, Pastor pointed out that Abram's father, Terah, was to go on to the Promised Land but stopped in Harran. We stopped at this point as her excitement became contagious. Here is the Word of God in Genesis 11 and pay close attention to verses 31 - 32.

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. 29 Abram and Nahor both married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milkah; she was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milkah and Iskah. 30 Now Sarai was childless because she was not able to conceive. 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 Harran.

Did you see it? Terah set out to go to Canaan, the Promised Land, but he was waylaid in Harran. Genesis 12 goes onto say:

1 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. 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. 5 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.

So, here we have the daddy who knows to go to the promised land, but he stops in another land. What would have happened if Abram hadn't hearkened to the voice of God and listened to his father instead? Have you ever thought if your actions have stopped someone else from their blessing? Have you ever thought that your teachings to your children could stop them from moving on and doing the will of God?

As parents, we have to be careful. My son celebrated his 21st birthday on Sunday, where my son gave me dating advice (a truly historical event) over dinner. When T was younger, the debate was when to introduce him to the guy that I was dating. My answer has always been the same - When I feel the man in question has earned the right to meet him. I have often described T as my greatest earthly blessing. For that reason, no one has the right to just walk into his life and be there. I have always felt that it was my job to protect him from the evils of the world. While I know that in reality I cannot protect him from everything, I've always felt a huge responsibility to protect the blessing God bestowed upon me. Now, that he is 21, the protection portion has slacked some. I know sit in a season of standing behind him and pushing him when he needs it.

Parents - know this, love your kids, nurture your kids, protect your kids. Give them all that you are supposed to give them. But, never hinder your kids from what God has for them. PUSH them to hear God's voice and to MOVE when and how he says. Abram didn't stop when God told him to go to Canaan. He went without delay. He didn't say, but God, Harran is the land where my father lays. He didn't weigh his options. He MOVED!!!

What will you do when God commands your next move?

Be A Blessing and not Just Blessed

- - Nakya