No Turning Back

Not trying to sound super spiritual here.

But the Holy Spirit is speaking so strongly to me through the life of Abraham in Genesis.

I can’t tell you how many times Genesis has been in my morning reading routine, but for some reason this time is different.

And this morning, Monday February 18th, 2019, I am in Genesis 23. It is pretty deep into Abraham’s story. He has been a “foreigner” in Canaan for about 62 years, living at times in Shechem, Bethel, Beersheba, and now Hebron.

God has been so clear to Abraham, during those 62 years, that this was the land He had promise the patriarch, that every inch of it belonged to him and his descendants. But God was also clear that the actual occupation of the land was not now…but rather some fairly unspecified time in the fairly distant future.

Well, I don’t know about you, but after 62 years in tents, moving as a “foreigner” from one region of the land to another, I would have a huge temptation to longingly lookover my shoulder…all the way back to Haran.

Haran is the last place in Abraham’s life where he was settled.

Haran is where all his relatives lived in comfort and security.

Haran is where Isaac’s wife came from.

Haran is where his native language was spoken.

His favorite dishes were served regularly in Haran.

Abraham’s identity should have been everything Haran-ian.

And according to every known custom in Abraham’s day, when you or someone you loved died, the only honorable thing to do would have been to bury them back in their homeland.

That would be Haran.

So, in Genesis 23, Sarah dies at the age of 127, while Abraham and his household are living in tents near Hebron. The writer is clear. He wants you to be clear that Hebron is “in the land of Canaan.”

I believe this clarification is because the normal thing for Abraham to do, after a period of mourning, would have been to take Sarah’s body back for burial to their homeland…Haran.

But he doesn’t!

Abraham goes to the elders of the city and begins negotiations for a cave right there in Hebron in which to bury his beloved wife…and is willing to pay an exorbitant price for the burial cave and the field it was in.

There is only one possible explanation for this dramatic breach in cultural practice.

Abraham has changed his identity and allegiance based purely on the promises of God.

Abraham has totally left Haran behind.

He may be a “foreigner” living in tents outside of Hebron, but he is 100% an occupant of the promises of God.

This land is his.

God has spoken.

The promises are as good as fulfilled in Abraham’s heart and mind and his beloved Sarah is going to be buried in the heart of God’s promise.

No turning back.

No looking longingly over his shoulder.

Abraham is all in, in spite of how it might have looked to an outsider.

What might “going back to Haran” look like in your life?

I believe it would be a return to anything from your past life that God called you to leave behind…and it doesn’t have to be anything overtly sinful.

• It could be something that represents security and control for you.
• It could be elements of your identity that you rely on to be cool.
• It could be dependence on the opinion of others.

The test comes in moments of crisis, like Abraham losing his wife.

And in the heat of the test, there is the temptation to go back to Haran.

The Holy Spirit will help you in that moment if you call on Him. But you and I need to make the decision before we get to the crisis.

“I am the people of God’s promise! You can bury me in the land of promise, but I am NOT going back to Haran!”