I'm 35 and I Just Discovered Something About Abraham That I Never Heard in Church.
Growing up in a Christian home, the story of Abraham was one I heard so much of — at home and at church. I grew up with the knowledge that Abraham was the man in the Bible who had so much faith in God that when God asked him to move without initially telling him where he was going, Abraham obeyed and moved.
Did you know that Canaan — the land God promised Abraham — was actually the same place Abraham's father Terah had already set out to reach before he died along the way? Yes, I was also surprised to read this. And by the way, just to digress a bit, this is why it is important to study the Bible for oneself, as much as we listen to sermons. I only came across this truth in the first quarter of 2026, at 35 years old, reading a story I had grown up with — it was surprising but at the same time exciting to discover this. Now, back to the reflection for the day.
In Genesis 11:27-32, the Bible records that Terah took his son Abram, Abram's wife Sarai, and his grandson Lot, and set out to relocate to the land of Canaan (remember that Abraham was called Abram before God changed his name to Abraham, and Sarah was called Sarai before God changed her name to Sarah). This means that before God called Abraham to leave his father's house for a place He would show him, Abraham was already on a journey together with his father, wife, and nephew to Canaan. In Genesis 11:31-32, the Bible records that Terah had reached Haran on their journey to Canaan, and they settled there — and that was where Terah died. After the death of Terah, we then see in Genesis 12:1-5 that God called Abraham to leave Haran and move, and he obeyed.
When I came across this truth last quarter, what I received was the understanding that Abraham altered his foundation — his family roots — through his obedience to journey to Canaan with God, rather than continuing with his father's plan and most likely the family deities or gods that his fathers had served. As recorded in Joshua 24:2, we understand that Abraham's family had a history of idol worship. So instead of Abraham leading his descendants into Canaan as idol worshippers, he altered his roots by obeying God's command in Genesis chapter 12 — choosing to go on a journey with God and be transformed in every aspect of his life, so that he and his descendants could enter Canaan not as idol worshippers, but as children of the living God. It was a long journey before they were ready to enter Canaan, but at last they made it. And it required just one individual in the family choosing to say, "I will do this God's way," rather than following the idol-worshipping practices of his father and ancestors.
Abraham altered his family roots, and through his submission and obedience to God, he led his generation into Canaan not as idol worshippers but as children of God — and they flourished as long as they stayed connected to God. Does this story resonate with you in any way? Do you perhaps know your family roots well enough to say that there may have been, or perhaps still is, some form of idol worship — but that someone made a decision to follow Christ, break free from those practices, and that changed everything for you? Or are you still in a place where such practices are ongoing, and you have no idea how to break free — perhaps to be the Abraham in your family who chooses God, trusts and submits to Him, and follows Him, even without having the full picture of where He is taking you?
This is a story that inspired me so much, and I hope it inspires you too. Believe that no matter your situation, through God's help, you can alter any circumstance — your family roots, the lives of your future generations — all to the glory of God and for eternal life. Take time to study Abraham's journey, and his descendants' journey, through the various transforming experiences they had with God from the moment he chose to obey. Learn how God can work through us to make us better, as long as we cooperate with Him. Draw hope from knowing that once God begins the journey with us, He never sleeps nor slumbers, but will do everything necessary to ensure we reach our promised land and make heaven in the end.
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