Legacy Lessons W/Vance K. Jacksonنموونە

“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Genesis ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

God established Abram’s legacy through obedience. He let everything go and God created his legacy. Abram was rich, influential, and politically connected in his father’s house, yet when God Called him, he left it all behind. Now the Lord had said unto Abram, “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:”

“So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.” Genesis‬ ‭12‬:‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬.

At 75 years old, Abram started over. Despite his wealth, position, and influence, Abram didn’t idolize the past of the former house. Abram didn’t idolize his wealth, nor his influence. Abram didn’t idolize his power. Abram didn’t idolize his position. Abram didn’t idolize his inheritance. Abram worshipped God and pursued the Promise.

Abram didn’t settle for what he saw—he obeyed God and pursued a better future. Even though his life was already great, Abram didn’t allow the greatness of today to paralyze his tomorrow. Stagnation comes at the moment of disobedience.

The Bible reveals that Abram did not stagger at the Promise of God. Abram obeyed God and pursued legacy. God told Abram that he will show him a land that Abram knew not—and God said that He will make of Abram a great nation. That’s the difference between the prideful and the righteous: both may appear mighty, but God exalts the humble. The righteous are obedient, submitted, and humble.

In fact, God declares that He will bless the righteous, and make their name great. God exalts. God expands. God promotes. God increases. God enlarges. God inspects.

And when God gives it to you, you will be a Blessing. Your efforts will overflow. Your businesses will overflow. Your cup will run over, and God will Bless those who Bless you and curse those who curse you. Through you, all families of the Earth will be Blessed.

They will be Blessed through your obedience. They will be Blessed through your businesses. They will be Blessed through your witty ideas and inventions. They will be Blessed through your wisdom. They will be Blessed through your knowledge. They will be Blessed through your gifts. They will be Blessed through your talents. They will be Blessed through your diligence. They will be Blessed through everything that your hands touch. Everywhere Abram went, he was Blessed. God Blesses the righteous and confounds the prideful.

He builds upon the seed of the Righteous and He destroys the legacy of the scornful. He Blesses those who are upright and stand before Him. He’s far from the prideful.

Abram followed God and pursued Righteousness. What if Abram didn’t obey God? He would have been stagnant and stuck in Haran—the land of his father.

In fact, according to Strong’s Concordance, the word, ‘Haran’ found in Genesis‬ ‭12:‭4 KJV‬‬ (H2771) means: “Mountaineer." Abram’s family conquered the mountain, but Abram was called to conquer countries. The mountain was great—but God has called you to greater. The former season was plenteous—but God has called you to be a blessing to all the families of the Earth.

You cannot afford to settle in the success of the past. God builds upon the obedience of your heart. Abram was great in Haran—but God called him to greater. Don’t settle for the mountain when God has called you to countries.

Later on we see that God gave Abram and his seed a country called Canaan. In fact, Abram’s father’s name was Terah. “And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.” Genesis‬ ‭11‬:‭31‬ ‭KJV‬‬.

According to Strong’s Concordance, ‘Terah’ (H8646) means: “Station" Terah was stationed and stagnant in Haran (the mountainous place). Notice according to Genesis 11:31 ‭KJV‬‬ Terah was headed towards Canaan the Promise, but he stationed in Haran. Terah settled in Haran. He settled for the mountain when he was in pursuit of Canaan. Don’t settle for the mountain when God is trying to give you countries.

According to Strong’s Concordance, ‘Canaan’ (H3667) means: “lowland." Why would God send Abram from a place of comfort, influence, notoriety, wealth, power, and distinction named Haran and send him to a country named Canaan—the lowlands?

God inspected the heart of Abram while he was in Haran (the mountaineer) or the elevated place. Abram’s heart was not elevated. Abram’s heart was not stuck on the success of his family. Abram’s heart was submitted to God and through the lowlands God elevated Abram’s name.

Don’t idolize the mountain. Don’t despise the low plain. Worship God and He will exalt you in due season. Humble yourself and let God make your name great. “Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.” Genesis‬ ‭13‬:‭17‬ KJV‬‬.

Arise and walk through the land. Arise and walk the breadth of the Promise. Remind yourself of what God Promised you. Obedience positions you for the Promise. Pursue Canaan.