Back to Genesis now, and to the seminal story that lies at the root of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Between us, we three religions number more than half the word's population among our adherents, and this man Abram is there at the beginning for us all. I'm looking forward to examining him afresh. What sort of man was he?
Abram travels from Ur to Haran
Genesis 12:1-3, 11:31
Death of Terah
Genesis 11:32
On to Canaan
Genesis 12:4-9
Trip to Egypt
Genesis 12:10-20
Abram leave Egypt wealthy
Genesis 13:1-4
Abram and Lot separate
Genesis 13:5-15
Covenant renewed
Genesis 13:14-17
Abram goes to Hebron
Genesis 13:18
I never noticed this before, but chapter 12 begins "The Lord had said." So Abram had received his great call sometime before. 11.31 describes his family's obedience to the call. Terah, Abram's father, together with his extended family, had left home for Canaan, but got no further than Haran. Only after his father dies does Abram continue his journey. Perhaps Terah's faith failed him. The promise itself is written in verse, as if Abram committed it to memory and repeated it to himself every day, until it became the mantra he lived by.
Abram was an important figure in his own right. Important enough to be given hospitality by Pharaoh of Egypt (even if Abram did feel he had to lie about his wife). Indeed he was so rich when he left Egypt that he and Lot had to part company - there wasn't enough grazing for them both to keep their flocks and herds in proximity to each other. You get the feeling from this that Abram could well be the start of a great and mighty nation - except for one problem. He had no children.
No comments:
Post a Comment