When God Calls You To Step Out Just Like Abraham
When Abraham Was Told by God to Leave the Land of His Fathers to Go to an Unknown Land: Did the Demons and Ghosts of His Old Land Follow Him to the New Land?
Abraham's journey in the Bible is one of the most profound stories of faith and obedience. In Genesis 12:1-3, God calls Abraham to leave his homeland, his family, and his familiar surroundings to embark on a journey to a new land—a place he had never seen. This command from God was not just a physical relocation, but a spiritual journey as well.
But there is a deeper question that arises from this story: When Abraham left the land of his fathers, did the demons and ghosts of his old land follow him to the new land? Did the spiritual forces tied to his past continue to haunt him in his new life, or did God deliver him from the spiritual baggage of his old life?
The question of spiritual forces and their influence on our lives is one that resonates throughout the Bible, and it is one that speaks to the challenges we face as we leave behind our old ways, our former identities, and even the places that have shaped us. As we explore Abraham's journey, let’s also examine the role of spiritual forces in his life and in ours, through the lens of the Gospel of Jesus and the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible).
The Call to Leave: A Radical Step of Faith
In Genesis 12:1-2, we find God’s command to Abraham:
> “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people, and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.’”
—Genesis 12:1-2 (NIV)
God’s call to Abraham was not just a simple request—it was a radical command to leave everything behind. Abraham was asked to leave his homeland, the people he knew, and the comforts of his father’s house to travel to a land that was unknown to him. This call was a test of faith, requiring Abraham to trust God with his future, even though he had no idea what the journey would entail.
In the ancient world, the land a person came from was deeply significant. It represented heritage, identity, and spiritual connection. For Abraham, leaving his homeland meant leaving behind everything that had shaped his identity, including any spiritual practices or influences that may have been present in his culture.
The Spiritual Forces of the Old Land: A Legacy of the Past
When Abraham left the land of his fathers, it’s likely that he carried with him the spiritual legacies of his past. The Tanakh reveals that the people of Abraham’s time worshipped various gods, practiced idolatry, and were influenced by the spiritual forces of their culture. In Joshua 24:2, we are reminded that Abraham’s family originally worshipped other gods:
> “Joshua said to all the people, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods.’”
—Joshua 24:2 (NIV)
Abraham’s family was part of a world that was deeply entrenched in idol worship and spiritual darkness. It’s likely that the demons and spiritual forces tied to those practices were present in Abraham’s life before he was called by God. But when God called Abraham to leave, He also called him to leave behind the spiritual forces of his past.
While the Bible doesn’t explicitly mention whether the demons and ghosts of Abraham’s old land followed him, we can infer that God’s calling was not just a physical relocation—it was a spiritual transformation. God was not only leading Abraham to a new land but also to a new identity in Him. Abraham’s obedience to God’s call was an act of faith that marked a break from his past, including the spiritual influences that had shaped him.
1. God’s Deliverance from Spiritual Bondage
In the Bible, we often see God’s people called out of spiritual darkness into His marvelous light. When God calls someone, He doesn’t just call them to a new physical location—He calls them to a new spiritual reality. Exodus 12:51 tells us that when God delivered the Israelites from Egypt, He freed them not just from physical slavery but from the spiritual bondage that had held them captive:
> “And on that very day the Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions.”
—Exodus 12:51 (NIV)
Similarly, when God called Abraham to leave his homeland, it was a call to freedom—not just physical freedom, but freedom from the spiritual ties and influences of his past. This freedom is echoed in Galatians 5:1, where Paul reminds us:
> “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
—Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
Abraham’s journey was a type of spiritual freedom, where he was called to step out of the old spiritual ties and into a new relationship with God. His obedience was a break from the past and a move toward a future defined by God’s promises.
2. The Power of God’s Presence in the New Land
While we don’t hear about demons or spiritual forces following Abraham to the new land, we do see that God’s presence goes with him. In Genesis 12:7, we are told that after Abraham arrived in the land God had promised, the Lord appeared to him:
> “The Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’ So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.”
—Genesis 12:7 (NIV)
God’s presence was a sign of His protection and His blessing. Abraham was not left to fight spiritual battles alone—God was with him, and His power was greater than any forces from his past. This is a profound reminder that when God calls us to a new season in life, He doesn’t leave us to face spiritual battles on our own. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus assures His followers of His constant presence:
> “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
—Matthew 28:20 (NIV)
Just as God’s presence went with Abraham, so too does the presence of Jesus go with His followers. As we step into new spiritual territory, we can trust that God’s power is greater than any forces from our past that might try to follow us.
3. Jesus: Delivering Us from the Demons of the Past
In the Gospels, we see Jesus casting out demons and delivering people from the spiritual forces of darkness that bind them. One powerful example is in Mark 5:1-20, where Jesus encounters a man possessed by a legion of demons. Despite the man’s past and the demons that haunted him, Jesus delivers him with a single command:
> “Then Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?’ ‘My name is Legion,’ he replied, ‘for we are many.’”
—Mark 5:9 (NIV)
Jesus’ authority over demons and spiritual forces shows us that there is nothing in our past—no matter how dark or haunting—that can follow us when we step into a new life with Him. Just as Jesus delivered the man from his past, He can deliver us from any spiritual baggage or bondage that may try to follow us.
4. Walking in the Light of God’s New Beginning
When Abraham stepped into the new land, he did so with God’s promises in his heart. The new land was not just a physical place, but a place of divine blessing and provision. In Isaiah 43:18-19, God declares:
> “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
—Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)
God promises to do a new thing in our lives, to make a way where there seems to be no way. As we follow God’s call, we can leave behind the ghosts and demons of our past, knowing that God is making all things new.
Conclusion: Freedom from the Past
When Abraham left the land of his fathers, he was stepping into a new life—a life defined not by the past but by the promises of God. While the Bible doesn’t specifically mention whether the demons or spiritual forces of his old land followed him, we know that God’s call is powerful enough to deliver us from the spiritual influences of our past.
Just as Abraham found God’s presence in the new land, so too can we find freedom and peace in the presence of God as we follow His call. Whether we are facing the ghosts of our past or the spiritual forces that try to bind us, we can take comfort in knowing that God’s power is greater than any force that tries to follow us. Through Jesus Christ, we are made free, and we can walk confidently into the new life that God has prepared for us.
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
—John 8:36 (NIV)
