In Genesis 11:27-32, Terah, the father of Abraham (still known as Abram at this point) and grandfather of Lot takes his family from Ur in Mesopotamia towards Canaan. He doesn’t get as far as the intended destination but settles at a place called Haran to the north of modern-day Israel. There the family remain until Terah dies and then in chapter 12:1-3, God speaks to Abraham and calls him to leave his family home and head to Canaan.
We know what causes Abraham to leave Haran for Canaan but what causes Terah to uproot from Ur? That was quite a significant step for him to take. Did God speak directly to him in an audible voice? Well the text doesn’t say. In fact, I get the impression that the focus in Genesis is specifically on God speaking to Abraham to reveal his promise. This would suggest that it was something else that moved Terah.
So here are a couple of possibilities.
- Circumstances: It could have been persecution or economic hardship. Perhaps such things count for the untimely death of one of the sons. On a side point notice that both big moves are prefaced by a death in the family.
- It could be that Terah looked around him and saw the state of Ur. Perhaps he was already a God fearer and distressed at the idolatry and sin in the city.
- Maybe God was already prompting Abraham and so, it was through his pressure that the family set off.
We cannot know for certain, though each of these is possible. What I believe we can say is two things. First, that it needed a direct revelation from God to get Abraham to the right and final destination. Secondly, that however things came about whether through audible voice, circumstances, conscience or advice of others, God’s will was still being enacted. God is able to work through a variety of means to accomplish his purposes.
This may help us to see how God guides us and accomplishes his purposes through us.
Faithroots 