Life in Canaan

Genesis 12:7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.

Abram’s arrival to Canaan can easily be compared with salvation and then the life that follows is our saved life. Abram had arrived here and had built an altar which shows how his acknowledgement that this transition had been glorious. We were thankful and happy when we were saved. But we do not progress as per God’s plan but wander on our own as Abram did. Verse 6 says that the Canaanite was there and at that situation God had promised Abram about the victory and ownership of this land. 

This is Christian life where we are saved but placed in similar situation like our previous life. There were Chaldeans and Babel earlier now we have Canaan. The flesh now poses as the new enemy which is against our new commitment. In this life, God has promised that we will be victorious over our flesh. But we always try to escape this test which is not God’s will. 1 Corinthians 16:13

This hastiness is seen again about Ishmael, where we see that Sarai being the first one to introduce Hagar to Abram and then Sarai was regretting about her decision. This is the state of the soul which takes stupid decisions without waiting. Running around for solutions is not good or biblical. At many times we need to wait patiently for God to work.

When Abram was in Canaan (Chapter 13), he could drive out four kings who had together captured five others. Abraham was a hero but before and after this victory, he could not even try to safeguard his own wife when out of God’s plan. He makes the same mistake at Egypt and Gerar (Chapter 20) by disowning Sarah. In both cases he is silent till Sarah is taken away and God had to intervene and bring her back. This is a small encouragement to us that God interferes when we make mistakes because we are in the covenant. God knows what we should lose and what we should not. God may allow famine in our life, but He would never accept our stupidity in losing the source of our blessings. Sarai can be compared with our soul which we do not value or cherish at all.

Abram had gained material wealth at Egypt and Gerar. But when the king of Sodom gave him money, he rejected (Gen 14:22). It is much ethical to accept from Sodom because Abram had bought victory to them. But both Abimelech and Pharaoh had lost blessings and gave to Abram for fear. Abram was wise enough to reject money from Sodom because of their wickedness. But this wisdom is not present when Abram was out of station. This foolish wealth had to be cleansed by sending everybody as slaves for four hundred years to Egypt. Everything was lost there and they had gained new wealth from Egypt as genuine wages (Exodus 12:35, 36). Hagar was one wealth Abram acquired in Egypt who brought him diversion and trouble at home. God says to Abram to “Fear not, I am your shield and your great reward” (Genesis 15:1). God always wants to be our only protection and honor. Abram was silent when he received all the gifts and Sarai was away. When we keep receiving earthly treasures, we easily forget our actual destiny.

Lot was one attachment God did not desire but Abram dragged along. The destiny of Lot was disgusting. The trouble through Lot lasted for centuries. Lot was the only link Abram had to his father’s house and this relationship was loved by Abram. As we grow up in Christ, we do not love the flesh who is spread across our life but we honor the tradition. A mixture of tradition and salvation results in cults and rituals. Abram had to give away a large share of his promise to Lot. That’s why Abram informs Lot that tradition and salvation cannot dwell together as both needs a lot of space, time and energy.

There were four heirs to Abraham thought he had. The first was Lot, next Eliezer of Damascus (Genesis 15:2), then Ishmael and Isaac was the last one. The first is our tradition; the next our possessions, then our personal achievements and at last comes the actual spiritual fruit from God. This prize is God’s intention and blessing to us. If Abraham had waited completely without bringing these people up, the place would have been very peaceful.

During Christian life after salvation, it is required that we continually stay in God’s plan, do not wander or decide on our own but submit to Him totally.

Amen.