ABRAM
The story of Abram begins in chapter 11. According to verse 24, Nahor was 29 years old when Terah was born. He died 119 years later. (26) And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Lot was Haran's son. Haran died before Terah in the land of Ur of the Chaldees (where he was born).
Abram's wife was Sarai and Nahor's wife was Haran's daughter, Milcah. Haran was also the father of Ischah.
On their way from Ur of the Chaldees to Canaan, Terah and his family stopped and dwelt for a while in Haran. Terah died at 205 years old while they were living there.
Chapter 12
When Abram is 75 years old, God tells him to leave Haran and go to a place He has chosen for him. He is to leave most of his family, including his father (Terah is 145 years old). 60 years after Abram leaves, Terah dies. (4) So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. (5) And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
The Antiquities of the Jews tells us the reason God told him to leave Chaldea was because the people there were causing an uprising against him due to his beliefs. ‘He was a person of great sagacity, both for understanding all things and persuading his hearers, and not mistaken his opinions; for which reason he began to have higher notions of virtue than others had, and he determined to renew and to change the opinion all men happened then to have concerning God; for he was the first that ventured to publish this notion, That there was but one God, the Creator of the universe; and that, as to other [gods], if they contributed anything to the happiness of men, that each of them afforded it only according to his appointment, and not by their own power. This his opinion was derived from the irregular phenomena that were visible both at land and sea, as well as those that happen to the sun, and moon, and all the heavenly bodies, thus:-“If [said he] these bodies had power of their own, they would certainly take care of their own regular motions; but since they do not preserve such regularity, they make it plain, that in so far as they co-operate to our advantage, they do it not of their own abilities, but as they are subservient to Him that commands them, to whom alone we ought justly to offer our honor and thanksgiving.”’ {Book 1, Chapter 7, verse 1}
When they get to Canaan, the Canaanites are there. God tells Abram that He will give all this land to his seed. Abram builds an altar there. Then he goes to a mountain on the east of Bethel and builds an altar there. He then continues travelling south.
While he was travelling, a famine takes over the land where he is. He decides to go to Egypt to wait out the famine.
When he gets near Egypt he tells Sarai to tell the Egyptians that she is his sister so they will not kill him to keep her.
Pharaoh treats Abram very kindly and gives him servants, camels, asses, sheep and oxen. He also has Sarai taken into his home. This upsets God and He sends great plagues upon Pharaoh and his house. He then sends Abram, his family and all his substance away.
If we follow God on our journey instead of our desires, He will see us through the worst of times. The Bible is not clear as to whether God sent him to Egypt of if he went on his own. God would have provided for him, his family, servants and animals during the famine if he had just put his faith and trust in his heavenly Father.
Another point to remember: his lie almost caused Sarai to sin. The things we do, good and bad, not only affect us but also others. Sometimes it even affects future generations.
I hope God continues to bless you all as you continue on your journey from this earthly home to your Heavenly home. Have a wonderful day.
Leigh
Abram's wife was Sarai and Nahor's wife was Haran's daughter, Milcah. Haran was also the father of Ischah.
On their way from Ur of the Chaldees to Canaan, Terah and his family stopped and dwelt for a while in Haran. Terah died at 205 years old while they were living there.
Chapter 12
When Abram is 75 years old, God tells him to leave Haran and go to a place He has chosen for him. He is to leave most of his family, including his father (Terah is 145 years old). 60 years after Abram leaves, Terah dies. (4) So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. (5) And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
The Antiquities of the Jews tells us the reason God told him to leave Chaldea was because the people there were causing an uprising against him due to his beliefs. ‘He was a person of great sagacity, both for understanding all things and persuading his hearers, and not mistaken his opinions; for which reason he began to have higher notions of virtue than others had, and he determined to renew and to change the opinion all men happened then to have concerning God; for he was the first that ventured to publish this notion, That there was but one God, the Creator of the universe; and that, as to other [gods], if they contributed anything to the happiness of men, that each of them afforded it only according to his appointment, and not by their own power. This his opinion was derived from the irregular phenomena that were visible both at land and sea, as well as those that happen to the sun, and moon, and all the heavenly bodies, thus:-“If [said he] these bodies had power of their own, they would certainly take care of their own regular motions; but since they do not preserve such regularity, they make it plain, that in so far as they co-operate to our advantage, they do it not of their own abilities, but as they are subservient to Him that commands them, to whom alone we ought justly to offer our honor and thanksgiving.”’ {Book 1, Chapter 7, verse 1}
When they get to Canaan, the Canaanites are there. God tells Abram that He will give all this land to his seed. Abram builds an altar there. Then he goes to a mountain on the east of Bethel and builds an altar there. He then continues travelling south.
While he was travelling, a famine takes over the land where he is. He decides to go to Egypt to wait out the famine.
When he gets near Egypt he tells Sarai to tell the Egyptians that she is his sister so they will not kill him to keep her.
Pharaoh treats Abram very kindly and gives him servants, camels, asses, sheep and oxen. He also has Sarai taken into his home. This upsets God and He sends great plagues upon Pharaoh and his house. He then sends Abram, his family and all his substance away.
If we follow God on our journey instead of our desires, He will see us through the worst of times. The Bible is not clear as to whether God sent him to Egypt of if he went on his own. God would have provided for him, his family, servants and animals during the famine if he had just put his faith and trust in his heavenly Father.
Another point to remember: his lie almost caused Sarai to sin. The things we do, good and bad, not only affect us but also others. Sometimes it even affects future generations.
I hope God continues to bless you all as you continue on your journey from this earthly home to your Heavenly home. Have a wonderful day.
Leigh