Genesis 11:27-32 Terah’s Journey

We followed Shem’s line up to Terah. He is Abram’s father. This is the start of another amazing promise from God.

Here is another bible story I learned wrong. I had been taught that Abram brought his family out of Ur after being called by God. I was taught that he brought his father on this journey but they stopped in Haran, instead of traveling on, until his father died. In today’s reading I learned the truth of this journey.

Terah is the one who initiated the journey to Canaan. Terah took Abram his son and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife, and they went forth together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan” (verse 31a). This was before God had called Abram.

When starting on this journey Terah separated himself, Abram’s family and Lot from the rest of the family. Terah had three sons; Abram, Nahor and Haran. Haran died after “fathering” Lot. We never hear anything about Lot’s mother. I wonder what happened to her. But Terah decides to raise the boy as his own. I find it interesting that he didn’t bring Nahor and his wife along. Did they not want to go or was there maybe a family rift? Whatever the reason, Terah and his small band struck out for Canaan.

Instead of going directly to Canaan, they went a circuitous route that brought them to a city with the same name as Terah’s dead son, Haran. Did this stir memories in Terah? Was this city founded by or in the name of his son? Is that why he stopped and remained there? We don’t know why Terah struck out in the first place nor do we know why he stopped mid-way to his intended destination. I wonder if he told Abram that Canaan was his intended final destination. Abram would complete that last leg of the journey without him. But Terah put down roots in Haran. This is where he spent the rest of his life after Abram left with Lot; 60 more years. Did the son he left behind in Ur join Terah in Haran after Abram left? This was the beginning of the “paring down process” for Abram. One step at a time.

Thank You father that You take me EACH and EVERY step of the way. You don’t require me to make “quantum leaps” in my life; at least not so far. I like clearing up misconceptions in my old bible history too. It amazes me how many subtle differences I had taken for fact just because they came from a Sunday School teacher. I have even read this passage before but I missed it then too. I LOVE how You open my eyes to new things each time I come to You with Your “scrapbook.” Keep showing me new things EVERY DAY Father!