Day Three Genesis 12 v 1-3

Bible Reading

31Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai,, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there. 32 Terah lived 205 years and he died in Haran 12v1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave you’re your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.. 2 “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. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; And all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” 

Notes

No pain no gain! Abram had to sacrifice to know a blessing. He was called to go, and the Lord then promised to bless. True blessing can only be known this way. However blessing shouldn’t be the motivation for our sacrifice and going. Christ went to the cross for our sakes, because His Father loves us. We should take up our crosses for Christ’s sake, because we love the Father. And for no other reason. This is obedience the Lord can truly bless. He could bless Abram knowing that he would be a channel of blessing to others, in fact a nation, the whole world, and indeed all generations.

Reflections and prayer

If your Christian life seems to lack reality, passion and fruit, consider what risks you have taken, and what sacrifices you have made for Him? Reflect too that it must all be for Him! What matters most to you: to bless your Father or be blessed by Him? Do you limit His blessing by seeking it for yourself? If you simply lived to bless God and be a blessing to others, what would the Father be able to do through you?

Going Deeper

  • It is uncertain whether this is a new call or a record of a previous call Abram had in Ur.
  • The promise is to bless all peoples, and the rest of the Bible needs to be read in this context, even when later the Lord commands the Israelites to drive out and destroy those foreigners in the land. 
 

 
 

Day 2 – Genesis 11 v 31-32

Bible Reading

27This is the account of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot. 28While his father, Terah, was still alive, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, in the land of his birth. 29Abram and Nahor were both married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah; she was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milcah and Iscah. 30Now Sarai was barren; she had no children. 31Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai,, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there. 32 Terah lived 205 years and he died in Haran.

Notes

Terah had a dream and Abram a call. Both were to go to Canaan. Terah failed. Perhaps he wasn’t being honest about his true intentions and only ever really meant to go to Canaan. Perhaps he lacked resolve. Perhaps he got distracted. We don’t know. But it isn’t just dreamers who fail to realise their potential. It is possible to miss or limit the call of God on our lives too. In fact very few seem to realise their potential or God’s purposes, and tragically live in regret or denial. Wonderfully though, as Abram was to find out, it is never too late to work out your call. Don’t live and die unfulfilled.

Reflections and prayer

What have been your dreams or God’s call on your life? Can you differentiate the two? Have you laid down your dreams before Him and allowed Him to give you back what is His call? How far have you gone in fulfilling your call? Have you got distracted, disheartened and stopped half way? How committed to achieving them have you really been? Give them back to God, and let Him pick up what is truly of Him.

Going Deeper

  • The Bible records the journey as being Terah’s initiative even though it says the Lord had called Abram to go to Canaan. 
  • Nahor isn’t mentioned among the travellers but Haran became known as the town of Nahor, so it is probable he did go along. He just wasn’t central enough to the story for specific mention.
  • Sarai is recorded as Terah’s daughter-in-law. In fact she was his daughter by another probably less senior wife.
  • Terah probably came from Haran where it is recorded he died.
  • There is some discrepancy over when Terah died. He is recorded as being 70 when he had his sons, and Abram was 70 when they began the journey. Abram left Haran five years later, and Stephen in Acts 7v4 says Terah had died in the meantime. These dates can be reconciled if it is accepted that Abram was the youngest son, and Terah was 70 when the eldest son, Haran, was born. He would though have then been 130 when Abram was born!
 
 ay

 

Day One – Genesis 11 v 27-30

Bible Reading

27This is the account of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot. 28While his father, Terah, was still alive, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, in the land of his birth. 29Abram and Nahor were both married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah; she was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milcah and Iscah. 30Now Sarai was barren; she had no children. 31Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there.

Notes

From the very outset of Abraham’s story the Bible makes it very clear that his was just an ordinary family like any other, regardless of time or culture. They enjoyed the celebrations of births and marriages, and suffered the pains of death and barrenness. This is therefore to be a fascinating and hugely relevant tale of how God can impact a real-life family. The only way this story can be irrelevant to you and your family, is if you choose to let it be so, by not letting it impact your life. As long as faith remains theoretical, and we don’t give our Father access to the realities of the joys and pains of our lives, then the Bible will not impact us. So make a decision now, not just to open your Bible, but to open your life too.

Reflections and Prayer

What are your joys and your pains? What hurts and disappointments do you carry? Have you laid these before your Father and given Him permission to speak into them? Why not do so now?

Going Deeper

  • Abram is named first in the list of sons, but probably wasn’t the eldest. The Bible probably just focuses on him as the key character in the story.
  • Abram married his half sister, and Nahor married his brother’s daughter. This was customary for the time.
  • Sarai’s barrenness would have been a major cause of heartache for both Abram and Sarai. However there is no indication Abram sought another bride as would have been common at the time and in the culture. This could say much about the man, and the relationship he enjoyed with Sarai.