Wasted Time in Haran!

Hi all,

This one is a little longer than usual, but I believe it’s a blessing.  Happy reading! 

There are 1,440 minutes in a day, 10,080 minutes in a week, 43,200 minutes in a month (30 day), and 525,600 in a year.  How much of it have you wasted in a place and/or a situation that you knew was more hindering than helpful?  To help you be honest, I’ll answer it for you; we’ve all been found wasting time, procrastinating, and pondering a next move.  Sometimes, even knowing what should be done.

The scene in the 11th chapter of Genesis, verses 31 & 32 is indicative of life after the flood.  Terah was a descendant of Noah’s son Shem.  Terah was the father of Abraham, Nahor and Haran.  Haran was the father of Lot and Milcah, Haran died and Nahor married the daughter Milcah…..and Abraham (Abram then) took Sarah (Sarai then to be his wife).  After Haran died, Terah was instructed to go to Canaan, so he took his sons, their wives and Lot from their native land Ur of the Chaldees to go to Canaan, but instead of going to Canaan, they stopped in Haran and the Bible says they dwelt there.   We have Haran the person and Haran the place.  My question became if they were instructed to go Canaan, why were they in Haran……they didn’t just stop for gas, or a snack, or to rest/sleep over, the Bible says they dwelt there, that means they unpacked, bought furniture, called the cable company, got the water and lights on, began meeting the neighbors and all…..I thought maybe Terah couldn’t resist the place Haran because he had lost a son by the name of Haran.  Maybe this would be the place to help him honor or maybe move from grief to celebrating his son’s life and death, or maybe he saw something there that he liked, because in my study I found this region provided wealth and comfort for those living in the city. 

How many of you know that everything that looks good to you isn’t good for you!  It is evident that this was not the place God intended for Terah to park.  Although, they became very wealthy in this place, Abraham’s father, Terah began making idol gods, and began to adopt the ways and culture of those in Haran, (not good, not good)! When you miss the “word” of God, you’ll most likely miss the “will” of God.  Terah was the one who would have been the father of our faith….but he missed the opportunity by wasting time in Haran.  Terah and his family had been chosen by God to establish His seed on the earth.   And today, we are in the same predicament.  God has chosen us to be his ambassadors/ to represent him in the earth, to spread his word to those who are lost, and to live the abundant life we were created to live and we are wasting time in Haran instead of moving on to Canaan!

Haran represents paralysis, due to disobedience:  When you are paralyzed you may still have the extremity, but it’s not functional…and that’s what happens in the church and in our society when the children of God walk in disobedience, when we dwell, when we settle in Haran!  It’s a sad thing to be on your post with no function because you have settled in the wrong place with the wrong people.

Here are a few examples of how we settle/ or dwell in Haran:

1. We have settled in Haran when we stay in that relationship where we are being kicked and punched on a regular, being emotionally, spiritually, and physically abused weekly, just so we  are not alone, so we don’t feel like a failure, or because we are worried about what others will say!  But remember, God is your judge, not people.

2. We settle in a Haran on jobs that constantly keeps from church on a regular and from fulfilling our full potential because the money is good, or we are afraid of today’s economy.

   • Haven’t you heard seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added?

   • Haven’t you heard that Jehovah Jireh is your provider not the job? The job is a resource, HE is your source!

1. We settle in Haran in churches when we become more concerned about the building and folk who are present, than being fed the life changing word of God, or because we think our family built and runs the church.

• Haven’t you heard, it’s God who hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophet, thirdly teachers, after tat miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues…. God did it, not you, or your family.

• It’s the Lord that adds to the church daily such as to be saved, not the preacher, or the people!

I could go on and on, but I think you got the picture…..get out of Haran and get to Canaan, Canaan represents the Promise!  The good news today is even when we’ve wasted time in Haran God is still faithful….and because his call on our life is irrevocable, we can still get to Canaan!!!

God told Abraham in chapter 12 of Genesis, I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee and make thy name great and thou shalt be a blessing and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.  Abraham destroyed all the idols his father had created and left Haran, and because Abraham is the father of our faith, his inheritance fell to you and to me!  And for that we are blessed in the city, we are blessed in the fields, we are blessed when we come, and we are blessed when we go…. so stand up, dress up, pack up and move out….we’re going to get everything the devil stole for us, our joy, peace, money, jobs, health….it’s all in the promise! 

Until next time, be encouraged!