“…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)

“…Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:” (Genesis 12:1)

The key to Receiving God’s Best is in knowing where to dwell, and in fact dwelling (or abiding) there. Many times we have received word from God as to what, when, where, and how – which if followed, will bring God’s Best to us and will Glorify Him. But there are costs in following Christ completely and totally.

Question: What causes God’s people to dwell in Haran and not continue on to Canaan?

The Answer is four parts:

First, there is the Counting of the Costs (Luke 14:26-33).

Christ said we must hate our family: father, mother, wife, children, brethren, and sisters – and also our own life (verse 26). Then we must decide if we “have sufficient to finish it” (verse 28). And we must forsake all that we have (verse 33).

Second, there is the Command of Communion (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

Our command is to “come out from among them, and be ye separate” (verse 17). The Christian must separate from the world. The Lord told Abraham to leave the Ur of the Chaldees; to separate “from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house”; and to go to a land that the Lord would show him. This separation has to occur, before Abraham, or any of God’s Children, can be in true communion with Christ, before they can be One with the Lord.

Thirdly, there is the Condescension, or Control of Self (body, soul, and spirit).

There are several verses which speak to the negative:

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)

(Also see 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.)

And here are some of the verses for the positive, to Walk in Love, as Christ walked:

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:34-35)

“He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” (1 John 2:6)

(Also see Ephesians 5:1-33.)

Fourth is the Consideration of Choice (Deuteronomy 30:10-19).

It is not the service – but whom you choose to serve that is in the balance. “No servant can serve two masters…” (Luke 16:13a).

Have you chosen to serve the Master, the LORD?

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:” (Deuteronomy 30:19)

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)

Reader, you know now the four parts to the answer of the question – Why does one settle for Haran instead of Canaan?

Next, we will look at what we miss by settling, by stopping short – instead of going on to the Promised Land:

First, what we miss is Abiding in Christ:

“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” (John 15:10)

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1)

Second, we miss Receiving God’s Best; even His Benefits:

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:” (Psalms 103:2)

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.” (Psalms 68:19)

What are these “benefits”?

1. His Communion (John 15:15, being His friend; also see Song of Solomon 6:3, 10)
2. His Power to Perform (Philippians 4:13; 1 John 5:4, power to be an overcomer)
3. His Provision (Philippians 4:19; Psalms 23:1-6; 103:1-22)
4. His Presence (Hebrews 13:5)
5. His Protection (Psalms 121:1-6)
6. The Prize – the Reward – being His Body, His Bride, being One with Him (John 17:21-24; Philippians 3:14)

Child of God, look around you. Did you settle for Haran, or are you Receiving His Best, all of His Benefits? Did you stop in Haran, or are you dwelling in the Promise Land?