He took his wife Saria, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated, and the people he had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land to the site of Shechem, at the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. Genesis 12:5-6 HCSB
The land of Canaan was the land that we now know as the land of Israel. It was a small section of land located between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. The Promised Land was a fertile land where God could establish a new nation of people that would faithfully follow Him and His directions. God called Abram to leave a godless land where the people worshiped idols and pagan gods. Abram traveled from Ur to the land of Canaan by way of Haran. This would not have been the most direct route, but it did follow the rivers. A direct route would have taken them across a vast desert land.
By taking “all” of his possessions, Abram was making a total commitment to God’s plan and direction in his life. When we make a commitment to Christ, we should give Him all that we have, all that we are, and all that we hope to be. As believers, everything we have (time, talents, and money) should be committed to God and His glory. As we surrender everything to God, He will take it, bless it, and use it for His glory.
Challenge: Have you committed your “all” to God? Does He own everything you have? God still desires for a people who will faithfully follow Him and His directions. Who are you faithfully following?