After the flood and Noah’s salvation, man begins almost immediately to seek his own way again by making a name for himself through building the Tower of Babel. Once again, though, we find God making good on His purposes and promises despite humanity’s stubborn sinfulness. This time God calls and makes a covenant with Abram (Abraham), for it’s him through whom God will create a people for Himself.

So much can be said about Abraham. His faith is an incredible example of trusting and following God.

But it’s Abraham’s father that has captured my attention as of late: Terah.

You’ve probably never heard of this guy, but right before God’s covenant promise to Abraham in Genesis 12, we have a few short verses about Terah.

Abraham and Terah stand in stark contrast to one another. One has persevering faith and another deterred faith (or a lack thereof).

What is easy to miss is that Abraham’s call and promise from God in 12:1-5 is given to him prior to Terah moving with Abraham to the city of Haran. Other places in Scripture help us in this. For instance, in Acts 7:2, we learn that God spoke this promise to Abraham while he was still in his hometown before he had moved to Haran.

So it seems that originally Terah was going on this journey of faith with Abraham. But while Abraham would persevere, Terah would be deterred.

We can’t know exactly why Terah was deterred. It’s possible that settling down and building wealth was part of it since 12:5 says the family had gathered possessions in Haran. But we can’t know for sure. Ultimately, what is held up in this passage and over the next few chapters is a faith that perseveres, a faith that lasts, that trusts God through thick and thin, and that follows God where he calls.

So what can deter our faith and hinder us from persevering?

Here’s three types of people with deterred faith:

1. The Comfortable – The security, peace, happiness, and comfort that the world offers is constant before our eyes. We will always be tempted to settle in and just enjoy the comforts that we can accumulate in this life. Building our own little kingdoms of material wealth and security may provide temporary pleasure or peace, but it will always fall short of the promises God has given us as we follow him to uncomfortable places. How has your faith been deterred by the temptation to be comfortable where you currently are?

2. The Distracted – Like Dory from Finding Nemo, we can often become distracted by every cool new opportunity that comes our way. Rather than focusing in on the pursuit(s) God has for us, we are constantly changing directions. These are often good things we go after, but are they the best? What is distracting you from God’s call on your life and how do you need to focus?

3. The Oblivious – Another way we end up with deterred faith is by simply being oblivious. As far as we know, Terah never heard a call from the Lord directly, so he likely never owned the call. He was blind or oblivious to the richness of the promise he could partake in through the journey with Abraham. Are you just following another person’s lead, or are you following God’s voice as he leads and guides you through his Word? Are you walking with God personally on this journey of faith, or have you never experienced God personally and know his voice in your life?

**Even if you don’t know the specifics of God’s call for your life, you can pursue his clear calling on every believer’s life that is laid out in Scripture.

Which one are you?

Avoid each of these, trust in God’s promises, and follow him as he leads each of us to take up our cross daily.