Genesis 11 & 12 Out of Ur

God had a plan for Abram and Sari. It wasn’t in the land of Ur, but in the land of Canaan. He had Terah start their journey but they would finish without him.

We are not told why Terah left Ur. Nor are we told why he didn’t take all his sons with him. Yet, we know that this journey would be the start of Abram’s journey with the Lord. I won’t claim that the story we are about to ‘climb into’ is precisely how it happened, but it is how God has allowed my imagination to go. I hope it sparks your imagination and draws you into God’s stories a little deeper.

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Terah is still mourning the loss of his son Haran. It was such a senseless way to die; being backed over by your own donkey cart because a child spooked him. If only Haran had tied him to the post… If only Terah himself would have been faster… If only he wasn’t looking the other way… So many ‘if only’ thoughts plague Terah. A father should not have to burry his child. And to have Haran die before Terah’s own eyes is almost more than he can bear!

At least Terah has Lot, his grandson, to ease his pain. It’s amazing how much he looks like his father! Haran’s wife blames Terah and can’t bear to look on Lot because she too sees Haran in him. Instead of clinging to Lot as the last of her husband, she has pushed him away. As painful as that is, it allows Terah to care for Lot as a father.

The reminders are everywhere of that day. And they are wearing Terah down. He feels trapped and in desperate need of a change. “I have to leave this place if I am to survive”, he tells himself. “There is nothing for me any longer in Ur.”

After wrestling with this decision for a week, Terah calls his family together. Abram and his wife Sari, Nahor and his wife Milcah, and Lot gather around the table. Terah looks over the faces of his family; grateful for each of them before he begins.

“I have made a decision. My heart cannot bear to continually look upon the place where Haran was taken from me. I cannot bear the looks of anger from his wife nor of pity from our neighbors. I must leave this place.”

“Surely these will all pass with a little more time. It hasn’t even been a year yet” Nahor pleads.

“No. I can’t wait any longer. My spirit crumbles more with each new day.”

“Where will you go my father” asks Abram.

“I have heard of a land that is flowing with milk and honey. It is the land of Canaan. There is where my soul will find rest.”

“That is a great distance father! Surely you cannot go alone” cries Abram.

“No. I cannot go alone. That is why I’m asking you all to come with me.”

“But our life is here!” exclaims Nahor’s wife. Nahor silences her with a look, as this is a man’s decision, not hers.

“Milcah speaks out of turn but she is correct. My business is here. Our children are married and have children of their own that will not want to leave Ur. And I don’t wish to leave my children behind.”

“I understand” Terah says with a heavy heart.

Abram has been silent throughout the exchange but he has listened keenly to the reason Nahor resists their father’s need to leave this place. Sari has heard the words of Nahor and they dig into her spirit a little deeper, as she has no children or grandchildren. “Maybe leaving this behind will help heal my spirit too” thinks Sari.

As if sensing Sari’s thoughts, Abram speaks for his family. “We will go with you father. Sari and I could use a change too.”

Terah is visibly relieved by Abram’s words. He reaches out and places his hand over Abram’s as it rests on the table. There is moisture in his eyes but he does not let the tears fall; tears of joy and pain.

Lot has watched the exchange between his grandfather and uncles without comment. If Terah leaves, what will become of him? He is barely a man. He still needs a ‘father’ to guide him in the ways of becoming a good man.

Terah knows Lot’s dilemma too. He speaks directly to Lot’s heart. “I want you to come with me my grandson. You still need a man’s hand in guiding you into adulthood. I would be honored to be that man.”

Lot quickly nods his head in acceptance of this arrangement. He can’t trust his voice to speak as his grandfather’s words have stirred him deeply.

“When would we leave and where will we go” Abram asks.

“I would like to leave after the Sabbath and we will journey to the land of Canaan.”

“We will be ready. All we need is inform our herdsmen to ready the animals for travel.”

The morning for departure quickly arrives. Hugs and not a few tears are shared as the family parts company for what may well be their last time together.

“Send news when you arrive safely”, requests Nahor.

“The first chance I get. I don’t know what the caravans are like coming and going from Canaan” replies Terah.

“I’m sure we will be able to get word back somehow” assures Abram.

Nahor, Malcah, their children and their grandchildren watch as Terah, Abram, Sari, and Lot move off into the distance. Following them are all their worldly goods, including a few servants and a moderate flock of sheep. Once they are out of sight, Nahor turns his remaining family back to their tasks of the day.

“Let’s not stand here forever. There is much work to be done.”

Terah and his band travel in the morning, rest at the peak of the day and then travel well into the evening. The days are long but the company is good. Terah’s heart lifts each day along the way. After three months of travel, the group comes upon the town of Haran. Terah feels it must be divine guidance as the city has the name of his son.

“I’m tired. I can go no farther. This is a good place to settle.”

“As you wish my father” agrees Abram.

Abram, Terah, and Lot pitch their tents outside the city. They settle their herds in an open field. There is plenty of water and grass. Other shepherds are also grazing in this land and they welcome our small band without protest.

It takes little time for Terah to become entrenched in the city. His wisdom has earned him a place at the city gate. Soon the family has a home inside the city in which they live comfortably.

As the years pass, Terah forgets all about going on to Canaan. His son and grandson have fit in well with the people of Haran and become wealthy men in their own rights. Caravans also carry news back and forth between Ur and Haran so Terah isn’t completely cut off from Nahor.

Although Abram appears happy in Haran, something inside him is unsettled. When Terah first mentioned going to Canaan, Abram felt something inside him resonate with this destination. They are only halfway there. Abram honors his father at all times but wonders when/if their journey will continue.

One day Abram is looking over his flocks. He has acquired much while living in Haran. A voice calls to Abram.

“Abram.”

Abram looks around to see where the voice is coming from but he sees no one. “It must be the wind”, he thinks. Abram turns back to looking at his flocks.

“Abram” the voice calls again.

This time Abram is certain of what he has heard. The voice also pricks at his heart and touches the place where he has been concealing his longing. He is not sure why, but he answers the voice. “Yes. What do You want?”

“I have seen your heart. I know that you are not satisfied with serving the idols your father and father’s father have served. I Am the God whom Noah knew and I have a purpose for you as surely as I did for Noah.”

“What is that purpose oh God of Noah? I am listening.”

“Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:1-3).

God’s words strike deep into Abram’s heart. He KNOWS these words will be his life. He also KNOWS that he must do as the God of Noah commands; at once! “I will obey.”

Abram hurries to Sari first. “You must come with me. I am going to see Terah. I have news that will affect us all.”

Sari obediently follows her husband and the two of them make their way to where Terah is working with Lot.

Terah is teaching Lot about managing finances. With Terah’s help, Lot has amassed a large flock of his own. They both look up at the sound of Abram and Sari’s approach.

“How goes your day my son” Terah asks as the two come to stand before him. Before they even speak, Terah knows that something important is about to happen. He briefly wonders if Abram will give him news that Sari is finally with child.

“Father, there is something I need to discuss with you right away.”

“Shall we go in the house and sit down to a refreshing drink?”

“That would be welcome” replies Abram.

Lot closes the book he and Terah were working on and carries it into the house. He is not far behind the others who have proceeded to the family’s table. Once everyone is seated, Abram begins to share his news.

“While I was out looking at my flock today, a voice called to me.”

Eyebrows arch and a skeptical look crosses Terah’s face but no one says anything.

“Father, when we first set out with you from Ur, you said our destination was the land of Canaan.”

“I did, but I grew weary.”

“There is no need to explain. You had every right to bring us here. We have done well in Haran.”

“Yes, we have.”

“But, for some reason, my spirit has been unable to rest. I haven’t really known the source of that unrest, but today a voice spoke to me and touched that very place. And it gave me an answer to that unrest.”

“What did it say? Where did it come from?”, asks Terah.

“It came from God. The God of Noah.”

“How do you know this my son?!”

“Because He told me Himself. And His words spoke comfort to the lonely places in my spirit.”

“Ok. What did He say to you?”

“He has called me to leave Haran and continue the journey. To follow Him to a place where HE will show me.”

“Where will that place be” asks Terah with a bit of fear in his voice.

“I don’t know where it will be, yet. I only know that I MUST go.”

Lot finally speaks. “I too have been uneasy here. May I go with you?”

“I was told to leave my country, my kindred, and my father’s house. I was not given specific instructions concerning you. If Terah does not object to you joining me, they you are welcome to accompany me.”

“In truth, this city is too small for Lot to advance any further. He would be well to go with you to a new land” offers Terah.

“But what of you father” asked Abram. “Will you return to the city of Ur; to Nahor?”

“No. My life is here now. I am needed here. This city that bears the name of your lost brother will be my final resting place.”

Abram knew that God had told him to leave his father behind, so he was comforted that his father felt he belonged in this city.

“It is settled. We will leave after the Sabbath” replied Abram to all in his company.

It took more time to get everyone organized for the journey than it did when leaving Ur. Abram and Lot both had acquired much. They had large flocks, many servants, and many possessions that the families could not leave behind. All was ready though by the date Abram had given.

Terah comes to bid Abram, Sari, and Lot farewell the morning they set out on their journey. “May the God of Noah bring you safely to the land He has prepared for you, as He did with Noah. And, if you have a chance to do so, send me word as to where He has taken you.”

“I will my father” replied Abram as he embraced Terah for the last time.

It would be many months before God showed Abram exactly where He was to settle. Abram went wherever the Lord led him, without complaint. His heart was truly happy for the first time in a long while.

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Abram left his father in Haran. Terah would live without his children and grandson, Lot, for another 60 years. I wonder if he remarried and had additional children during those 60 years. Some have postulated that Abram didn’t leave Haran until after Terah died. This would have made Abram’s birth much later in Terah’s life, as Abram left Haran at the age of 75. I don’t think this is so, because God directly told Abram to leave his father’s house. There was no one of his father’s house except Terah in Haran. This leads me to believe that the time frame of Abram being born when Terah was 70 is correct. We are not told that the three sons of Terah were triplets, who was the oldest, or many years passed between their births. But Abram is listed first in both genealogies.

God’s call to leave his father must have been difficult for Abram. I don’t know if the veiled promise of children made the difference for him. God didn’t specifically promise Abram children at that point but He DID say that ALL the families of the earth would be blessed through him.

God sometimes calls us to do hard things, but what waits at the end of obedience is ALWAYS worth it. He NEVER calls us to do something without a purpose and plan behind it. It is up to us to get on board with that purpose. I’m wondering if God had to say it more than once before Abram said “Yes.”

Father God, You have not called me to do anything nearly as grand as what You called Abram to do. I’m NOT complaining. I’m actually grateful for that too. I couldn’t go that far from my family. I’m grateful though for the things You have allowed me to be a part of. I pray I’m following Your plan correctly. If I stray, bring me back on track; kicking and screaming if necessary!

Thank You for allowing me to use my imagination and for making Your stories come alive for me. I pray they give You honor and draw others closer to You too.