Run away from home? Yes!

No, not your adult home. Your parents’ home! So, if you’re like me and can say, “I haven’t lived in my parental home for (fill in the blank) years”, I am with you. Well, at least I thought I was. But today as I was praying, I thought of Abraham. You know, the guy who is listed in the Hall of Faith, the man who considered and then considered from God’s perspective, the issue of having a baby at his age. And he fathered a son just like God had promised, but before Abraham became that guy…

I like to paraphrase. That’s why I don’t have my own translation of the Bible…because I’m not always right on with the scripture meanings, but I try. I’m just tossing this out here because I’ve been thinking.

You can read about Abraham in Genesis, though. He got several chapters by the time all was said and done. His exploits made history and then went into the new covenant. His blessings have even come on us! But first…

“Abram”, God said to a man who was already married, and was concerned that he didn’t yet have an heir, “You need to get out of here. Leave your family home and go to a place I will show you.” If I didn’t know better, I might think Abram was from the Walton clan on the east coast where generations shared the same home, but I’m sure some similarities could have existed.

But why was it necessary to leave his parents’ home in order to fulfill God’s plan for Abram and Sarai? Because Solomon said there’s nothing new under the sun, and people are still just people, fallen and with a plan stealing enemy running the earth, I think we can find some reasons in our own time and our own culture.

Does anyone other than me have the ability to name one domineering family member that can make you, as a capable, productive adult, cringe when you see them coming? (Raise your hand. No one will see.)

I can see that limiting God’s ability to work out His purpose, especially if it seems an unpopular plan to people who have known you all your life. Have you ever heard the phrase, “We’ve always done it that way”?

Another reason Abram may have needed to leave his family’s home is that his whole family may have been saying stuff like “Abram and Sarai can’t have children.” When we hear those negative words long enough, they take root. We must guard our hearts about what we take in through our ears so that we aren’t getting into unbelief about the promise that God has given us.

I know someone who, for decades, could not put a plant into the ground without it dying. Now she can plant anything and it grows. What changed? There was a person in her life who continually told her, “The best way to kill a plant is to give it to you.” Once that relative was not in the area any more, the woman said, “I am going to try one more time” and without that negativity in her thinking, a plant grew. She got bold and tried another. She still plants a lot. Successfully. So Abram’s parents may have been a hindrance to his success.

God’s plan for Abram was to have a son, an heir that would produce a nation to worship God. While Abram was in his parents’ home, that hadn’t happened. Abram’s personality was formed there, and he was influenced there in a way that kept God’s promises from being realized in that environment. God had chosen Abram to be the father of many nations. Finally, God said, “Abram, go.”

Once Abram was out of his father’s house, God was free to change him, and even his name. A son was finally born at a ripe old age, and the nation of Israel is still remembering Father Abraham.

Today I began to wonder…is it time for me to leave my parents’ house? Are there old thoughts, like attic remnants, in my mind that are hindering God’s plan for me even as a (confirmed) adult? Are there traditions in me that I’m not aware of that keep me from moving forward in Him? Are there thoughts or fears from things I’ve “always heard” that are contrary to what God’s promises have been telling me for years?

I’m asking God if my past way of thinking is influencing my present and future way of “doing”. I may need to pull up stakes (and traditions) and leave my parents’ house.