You choose: your calling or your comfort

The Bible says, ‘Terah took 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.’ (Genesis 11:31 NIV) Ur was a great city in Abram’s day—a centre of wealth and learning, but full of idolatry. Abram’s father Terah began the long journey to Canaan, but stopped partway. Reaching the city of Harran, he went no further. That’s where his road ended. Only Abram, his wife Sarai, and his nephew Lot eventually set out again.

Now Harran was a city that, even when the entire kingdom around it proclaimed itself Christian, still clung to its pagan roots. It had wealth, learning and idols—just like Ur. So why did Terah stay? Did he think he’d have to give up his own wealth, learning and idols? Did he choose a comfort zone over his calling? Is that why he gave up, when Abram went on?

That’s a choice you will have to make too. And you will have to make it more than once. As your circumstances change, and the seasons of your life progress, you will have to decide whether to walk with God into the unknown or settle for the security of what you know. Terah settled; Abram moved on. What are you going to do? You don’t have to do anything to be worthy of God’s love and grace; those are gifts. But to walk in God’s blessing, you have to choose your calling over your comfort.