Abram Goes to Canaan

Family Tree and Moving, Genessis 11:27-32

Family Tree, 27-30

This is the end of a genealogy that connects Abraham to Shem

Tera had three sons: Abram, Nahor, and Haran (Abraham was likely the youngest of the three, but the most important)

Haran died in Ur but had at least three children before he died: Lot, Milcah, and Iscah

Abram married Sarai, whom we will learn is his half-sister in Genesis 20:12.

Genesis 20:12 But indeed she is truly my sister. She is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

Nahor married Milcah--his niece--and had children. We'll learn more about them later in Genesis.

Moving, 31-33

Left Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan but only made it to Haran, a city in north west Mesopotamia. We don't know much about the city: it could have been founded by Terah and named for his son Haran but we don't know that. What we know is that is as far as they made it.

God Calls Abram, Genesis 12:1-5

The Timing of the call, 1

The language of verse 1 suggests God called Abraham in Ur "the Lord had said"

This is born out in Acts 7:2-4

Acts 7:2–4 (NKJV)

2 And he said, “Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,

3 and said to him, ‘Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you.’

4 Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell.

This has caused some people to posit that Abram did not truly obey God's call, but that ignores the text in verse 4, "Abram departed as the Lord had spoken". It also ignores Hebrews 11:8

Hebrews 11:8 (NKJV)

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

The Promise with the call, 2-3

This is the first iteration of what is frequently called the Abrahamic Covenant: a covenant that God made with Abraham

The obedience to the call, 4-5

Abram left Haran, heading for Canaan, at 75 years of age

Abram took his nephew Lot with him

This will complicate Abram's life later on

Abram likely had some familial responsibility for Lot, but so might have his brother Nahor

Many people view this as a failing on Abram's part since God indicated he was to leave his father's family behind, that could be true or it could be harsh

Abram was already wealthy when he left Haran

Abram travels the Land, Genesis 12:6-9

He would have entered in the northern part of Canaan

Ai is near Jericho, just north of the Dead Sea in the central part of Canaan

Abram continued south heading to Egypt

Abram Goes to Egypt, Genesis 12:10-20

Abram makes a deal with Sarai, "Say you are my sister", 10-13

Pharaoh takes Sarai to his house and enriches Abram, 14-16

God delivers Sarai and Pharaoh chastises Abram, 17-20

Conclusion

Genesis 12 ends on something of a sour note: the man of God being reprimanded by a pagan for his immoral behavior. But it started on an uncertain note, too: did Abram fully obey God? What we are left with is a picture of a great man who was a normal man. Abraham may be a giant of our faith but he was a flawed, fallen human being just like the rest of us.

The truthfulness of Genesis 12 highlights the humanity of Abraham. In doing so, it delivers a lesson for us. God calls and uses ordinary people to do extra-ordinary things. The only ability He is really looking for is avail-ability.