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The reference is the 12th and 13th chapters of Genisis. Terah had taken Abram and Lot from Ur of the Chaldees and they were headed to Canaan but stoped short in Haran (which means "halting" wink until Terah died. Once Terah was dead, the Lord spoke to Abram telling him to leave his land and his kindred and to go to a land He would show him.

Apparently the trip wasn't as blind as I had originally thought because they were headed to Canaan for some reason already. They simply picked up and resumed the journey once Terah died. This was the first order to Abram, and it seems like Terah knew the order, himself, because the book of Jasher tells much back story to the events of Abram's youth and the fleeing from Ur of the Chadlees. Abram's birth was an auspicous one, though he had not known it himself, nor was it revealed to him fully when God ordered him forward.

So they passed through the tretcherous land between Haran into Canaan and upon arival there God appears (for the first time since Adam was exiled) and He says "Unto thy seed will I give this land..." He didn't even include Abram in that promise at this point. And Abram builds an Alter unto the Lord there.

Ok, now I am about where I need sight from God to go forward from here. All scripture is profitable for instruction and admonishin. The call of God, when it finds us shakes us loose from where we are found. A choice, the first choice is always the same, it seems, for every child of God. Break loose of the ties that bind you to the world. Family ties, geographical ties, professional ties, whatever it is that has its grip on you, keeping you from proceeding to where God wants you. How do you break loose?

It's like the chinese parable of the two monks vowing never to touch a woman, they come across a woman at the edge of a river needing to get across so the older monk picks her up and carries her through the river to the other side. The two monks continue on their journey for a couple daays and when the younger monk can't contain himself any longer, he say's, "Why did you violate your vow by carrying that woman across the river?" The older then answers, "I carried her for ten minutes where you have been carrying her now these two days."

The parable has worlds of meaning and teaches many things. The older monk did violate his vow. He carried that woman, but he also put her down and continued on his journey. The young monk carried her in his heart and yet refused to let go of her. Who is in the wrong? Both strayed from their commitment, one returned and the other retained his off course. Repentance of all the acts of man is most divine. With out repentance we cannot forgive and without forgiving we will not be forgiven.

So now the question, when I have broken loose of the bondage, where do I go now? It's like clearing my schedule, I have no plans, and I'm a soldier waiting for instruction. The Lord is our Shepherd, and leads us down paths of righteousness for His names sake. What path was I on when God found me? I was idle... standing at home where I was, not really going anywhere and with a vast emptiness inside. What was the direction I received? To rejoice, and to share with others what great things God has done. We all have that order. I came to the place of rejoicing and built an Alter there unto the Lord... but at some point I moved away from it. The simple greatness that is in Him. Stopped talking as surely of what He has done. Laxed in faith, and wrapped up in labor.

Now, where did I leave that Alter? I think it was when I let my eyes fall on Anna that I was snared. God delivered me in body but my heart has been yet entangled. I think if it were God that had joined us we would not have been put assunder so easily. I have been a fool and have horbored resentment over that foolishness... crying as if I've lost something great. All the while crying has cot me something greater. God is my strength and the Lord is my Salvation forever.

How do you know He will take you back? He already has, thank God. "Turn to me and I will turn to you," is what He said. It is my blessing that I want to turn to Him. But the fight is still there... the flesh is kicking and doesn't lie down easy. But I must remember that the old man is passing away and to cling to him will only cause me to pass away with him. Thanks be to God, His power is greater and has broken me loose of the death grip. Hallelujah!