“You’re Never Too Old To Start Something New” – Genesis 11:27-12:4

Genesis 11:27-12:4

“Now these are the generations of Terah. Terah fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran fathered Lot. Haran died in the presence of his father Terah in the land of his kindred, in Ur of the Chaldeans. And Abram and Nahor took wives. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and Iscah. Now Sarai was barren; she had no child.

Terah took Abram his son and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife, and they went forth together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan, but when they came to Haran, they settled there. The days of Terah were 205 years, and Terah died in Haran.

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.”

It’s typical for many folks to reach a certain age where they believe they’ve done all that they’re going to accomplish of any real significance. They enter into a phase of life where their plans include sitting back, relaxing, stepping away from all responsibilities, and letting others pick up the ball and run with it. They’re happy to look back in fondness at years gone by, to live in the memories of the past, and get as comfortable as possible until God sees fit to punch their one-way ticket to glory. After all, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Right? 
When we look at the passage above, one of the things that the author makes sure to point out is that Abram is 75 years old when his life (as we know it) really begins. We don’t know anything about Abram up to this point other than where he came from and who his relatives were. Was he popular in high school? Did he have a successful career? Was he in the top 30 under 30 according to the Chaldean Chronicle? We don’t know, and as far as the Bible is concerned, it doesn’t matter. In fact, everything that Abram might have amassed during his younger years was left behind as he obediently followed God into the next phase of his life.
Consider the following questions: 
  • As you consider your own age, is there a time that you’ve given yourself as your productive years? In your opinion, is there an age when God will be done using you? 
  • Can you think of any people you know that are living to their fullest at a time when culture tells them their best days are behind them? 
  • Could God be calling you into a new chapter in your life, one that just might eclipse everything you’ve done and experienced so far? Take some time to listen to God and allow Him to speak a challenge for tomorrow into you.
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 
Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
Jon Price, Associate Pastor

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