DON’T TAKE ME BACK

• DAY 286
• FAITH FILE: ABRAHAM
• SCRIPTURES: GENESIS 24:1-9

Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. So Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please, put your hand under my thigh, and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell; but you shall go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” And the servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I take your son back to the land from which you came?” …if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be released from this oath; only do not take my son back there.” So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.

Recently I was wishing I could go to Abuja to buy my favorite bread. Because since we moved out of Abuja I have had to adapt to so many changes. And I can handle changing my barber, favourite supermarket and places, fruit juice vendor, etc but changing the bread is almost unbearable. (P.S. If you’re in Abuja and you’re reading this, send me bread from Mchez Bakery in Lifecamp ASAP). Sometimes I crave what I once enjoyed and I look longingly at what I once had.

That’s the thing with changing environments it comes with nostalgia. You look back and crave things you miss and part of you wants to return, even if it’s just for a moment. It is even tougher if you love the city you left. Something in you will want to look back fondly, we see this in Lot’s wife. The Israelites also missed Egypt where they were enslaved. Looking back is normal for the fearful but for a man like Abraham that was not an option. He was so confident in God’s covenant with him that he would rather Isaac remain single than return to the place God delivered them from.

Legacy

I believe he was not just obeying God’s instruction not to marry a Canaanite woman for Isaac, he was preserving the legacy of the covenant God made with him. He was not going to let his death derail his generation. It’s easy for us to focus on our time and not the next but we have to take up courage to ensure that what God started with you continues after you’re gone.

Beloved, when God separated you it was for a generation and it is not only your responsibility to have faith for now but also to preserve a legacy for the next generation. You can only do this if you focus on the promise ahead more than the place you left. You can’t afford to live life looking backward. It is better to suffer in the place of your promise. Make up your mind that you will not compromise on the promise no matter what. Do not be afraid. Look ahead. God is with you.

Shalom