Online Reporter
Trust Maanda
Looking at the Unseen
GENESIS 12:1
“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”.
God’s call demands a separation. Separation from your friends and acquaintances. Separation from your routine. Separation from unbelief. Separation from what you are used to. God says if you separate yourself, then you will be His child.
God’s call always starts with “Get thee out”, Abram was 75, settled, and respected in Haran. He had a country, family, and father’s house — the three biggest comfort zones in his time. That was identity, security, and reputation in one package. Then God said: Get thee out.
Notice the order: country, kindred, and father’s house. God didn’t ask Abram to keep anything. He asked him to leave what was familiar. Comfort zones are just too small for God’s promise. You don’t outgrow them by dreaming bigger. You outgrow them by obeying the first “get out”.
The promise came AFTER the step, not before. God wants you to take a giant leap in the dark. He wants you to trust Him. God didn’t hand Abram a map, GPS coordinates, or a five-year plan.
He said: “Unto a land that I will shew thee”. Future tense. I will show you… as you go.
Comfort zones demand full details before movement. Faith doesn’t. Faith is packing your bags while God is still drawing the map. Abram left Ur with more questions than answers. But every step forward unlocked the next revelation. Staying in Haran would have kept him safe… and stuck.
There are things you must forsake to grow, like what Abram did: “Thy country” This is your familiar environment. Your country is your routine, your city, your “this is how we’ve always done it”. Harare is home, but if God is calling you to start that business, write that book, switch careers, your “country” becomes a cage.
The cost of forsaking is that you will feel like a stranger or a wanderer at first. The reward is that you will become who God called you to be.
“Thy kindred” that you must forsake are your familiar ideas and opinions. They are the voices who cleave to you but don’t understand your call. Those that whisper to you to “be realistic” or “get or stay on a safe job.” They mean well, but their fear can become your ceiling.
Father’s house limits you to your background. Leave your father’s house. People know you as son of “Mr so and so the builder’s assistant or that family of robbers and prostitutes”. It is the label people gave you. Poor family. Average grades. No connections. You need to leave that. Go to a land unknown which God will show you. Venture out. Leave the old name and label behind. God gives you a new name — Abram became Abraham, “father of many nations”. Abraham did not fully obey. He did not leave his kindred although he left his country. He took his father and Lot, his brother’s son. He was afraid to jump without a parachute.
Lot proved to be a problem along the way. Their shepherds began to quarrel and the pasture was not enough.
It was when Abraham told Lot to go his way while he went his way that God reaffirmed His call of Abraham.
He told him to look around and walk through the land. God assured Abraham that He had given him the land, but only after he had totally separated from lot.
You blessing lays on the other side. When you go out of your land and of your kindred and father’s house, you will get the full blessing. The blessing is on the other side of “out”.
Genesis 12:2 follows immediately: “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee…”
The nation, the name, the blessing — all of it was tied to the “get thee out”. Your “Canaan” is also on the other side of your Haran. The promotion, the business, the healed relationship, the purpose — God won’t drop it in your comfort zone. He will show it to you as you walk.
Comfort zones whisper “stay, it’s safe here.” Faith whispers “come, I’ll show you.” Abram didn’t become “Father of Faith” by staying comfortable. He became him by forsaking what was familiar for what was promised. What is your “Haran” right now? The country, kindred, or father’s house God is asking you to leave? You don’t need the whole map. You just need to take the first step out. “By faith Abraham… obeyed and went out, not knowing whither he went” Hebrews 11:8. Go out. He will show thee. The four lepers left their comfort zone and walked in to a Syrian camp. They found the campo deserted and with a lot of spoil. If they remained where they were, they were going to die. They took the risk. It paid in the end.
Trust Maanda is a gospel preacher and transformational speaker. He writes in his personal capacity. He can be contacted on +263772432646
