Benched

Genesis 11: 31

Now Terah took his son Abram, and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and they departed together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan; and they went as far as Haran and settled there. The days of Terah were 205 years; and Terah died in Haran.

Yesterday’s Word of the Day encouraged us to get in the game because God has a good plan for us. I thought I would show you how this could take form by looking at the experiences of some Biblical figures.

Some people choose to bench themselves. That is a horrifying thought to me but is exactly what Terah did. Terah was the Father of Abraham, who, at this time, was known as Abram. Terah packed up his herds and flocks, gathered his family and set off for Canaan. Now we know Canaan as the promised land. What made Terah pack up and head to Canaan? What caused him to stop short of the goal?

While it is only speculation, I believe Terah had a word from the Lord telling him to go to Canaan. He started out well enough, but something happened. He got comfortable. When he got to Haran and set up his tents, he found the area pleasing, so he stopped. He was on his way to the promised land but stopped and put down his tent pegs when he found a pleasing spot. He settled for less than God’s best. God was taking him to the promised land, but he never made it there because he quit. He settled for what he could see in the present moment instead of relying on God’s promise.

God had a better plan for Terah than Terah ever got to live out because he put himself on the bench in the game of life. He chose to avoid the work of travelling on and to avoid the inevitable risk that comes with living in faith. He chose what he could see over what God promised. It’s kind of tragic.

Let’s not settle for anything less than God’s best because God’s plan for us is bigger and better. Not only that, God does not want us to live a settle for existence. He has good plans for us to live in His best all the time. Keep asking Him for a refreshing of His plan and for him to lead you daily.