Terah's Lesson

Terah’s Lesson

Gen 11:24-32

Today, Lord willing I do not have a long lesson for you because it is concerning someone in the Bible that there is not much writing about at all. He was a man that is not one of the what we would call one of the patriarchs though he was in the lineage of the patriarchs.

He is not a man that we have ever told a Bible story about to our children because there was no wild event or miracle that happened in his life. His name is only mentioned once in the New Testament and 11 other times in the Old Testament and outside of these few verses it is always in a genealogy. No he was a man that is mostly obscure in the Bible.

So from this man’s life, we are going to see a startling lesson as we look at Terah’s Lesson. Let’s pray.

A very important rule for our lives as we study the Bible is found in an often quoted verse by me. It is in 2 Timothy 3:16 where the Bible says to us:

2 Timothy 3:16 AV

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

This Scripture in 2 Timothy is important because it says that All Scripture is given my inspiration of God. Inspiration is a verse that means “God breathed.” He wanted it in the Bible. So we have it. That Scripture is all profitable for our lives. Certainly we know that all Scripture is good for us - but Paul was especially highlighting the Old Testament Scriptures.

Not everyone of them are convenient, some are difficult to read, and some have outrageous historical content that are just unimaginable to us today. But remember - God tells us that it is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. This passage that we have read this morning concerning the Generations of Terah - as short and basic as it is - has a great lesson for us.

Now, from this man - we can see some lessons for us today that his life taught - and if we will be wise and learn them, we do not need to repeat them for our lives.

Terah was a direct descendant of Noah, who was a direct descendant of Adam. We are talking about 13 generations in fact from Adam. Hundreds of years.

I. A Man of Love for His

vv.2

I think he loved his father - the reason I say he loved his father is because he named his son after his father, Nahor.

I think he loved his children as well.

He expected great things out his children:

Haran - Mountain or great height.

Nahor meant - Slayer, sneering for battle

Abram meant - Exalted Father

Certainly this shows his great expectations for their lives.

Likely he had a love for his wife as well.

Something was special about Terah and his family - because God calls it the Generations of Terah. This indicates a new beginning or a change was happening. God was going to do something with these people. So Certainly God expected some great things.

II. A Man of Faith

He had faith to move his family to a place that God had put on his heart. We don’t know all the details but certainly we know that God had a plan in it all.

He trusted God, he saw God’s goodness, he believed in His God and went forth at his calling.

Oh how wise it is when we, like Terah, obey God and fulfill His will for our lives. How blessed it is to step out on faith.

Can I challenge, nothing truly amazing will ever happen in your “Christian Life” the answers to prayer, the true blessings of God - until you step out on faith also. You need to do it. Terah did with his family.

But there was something else we notice about Terah:

III. A Man that suffered Tragedy

Haran died v.28

He died “Before” the presence of Terah.

That word has a dual meaning. It means that he died in regard to time before Terah. But it also means that he died in front of him, that he was there at his death.

I have seen death from early on in my life especially in the murder of my father and the death of my stepfather when I was 13. As as difficult as that was, I have no doubt that it is far more of a tragedy for a parent to lose a child.

IV. Terah faced a Decision point in his tragedy

Remember that he was headed for Canaan land, the promised land. He was headed for a place that God had led him to go to.

He was on his way and death hit him hard, a tragedy came - they were set aside.

It hit him hard, like it would any of us. To have a child die ahead of you is probably the worst thing to experience.

As we have talked often about, there is not much that can fix such a tragedy. You never really get over it - but you can by the grace of God continue to live and learn to cope and move on.

That is where Terah was. He was at the point as to whether he was going to go on or was this going to stop him. Was he going to go on for God or what he going to allow the tragedy to stop him.

The truth is this a decision but the things we surround ourselves matter greatly as to whether or not we make the right decision.

A. Do we have a close walk with God

B. Have we made it a practice to do right no matter the circumstances

C. Are we the type of person that will quickly become bitter or easily makes excuses

These things can all play a part of and they all affect our decision making.

I’ve got to say concerning Terah, we have no way of knowing much of this except that it seemed like he had a close relationship with the Lord.

V. Terah allowed the tragedy to stop him

It stopped him in his tracks. It stifled his fruitfulness for God and effectiveness in life.

No longer do you see him continuing his walk with God. You do not see him stepping out in faith.

You do not see any growth from this time on, no more pioneering spirit.

His Spirt was defeated. You say, how can that happen. How can someone allow that with the power of God is on their lives? The same in the Old Testament as in the New Testament.

He allowed His eyes to be taken off of God, and rather focusing there - his focus was his tragedy.

But here is the most important part of Terah’s Lesson, I want you to listen to this last part.

And when tragedy strikes us - it also brings some other things in his life.

VI. Terah missed all of the future blessings God meant for him to have

You see, the Bible says from this point on Abram and Lot continued on with their families. But Terah never continued on.

He allowed the tragedy to stop him.

It stopped his growth

It stopped his service for God

It stopped his relationship his blessing others

It stopped his relationship with his family

Do you know that Terah was alive when Ishmael and Isaac were born but you never see involved or around ever.

He left his faith and embraced bitterness.

Philippians 3:13–14 AV

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

He did not forget the things that were behind him.

He stopped in Haran.

Don’t know this for sure because the Bible does not say - but the city he dwelt in from then on was named Haran, the same name he gave his son.

Could it be he started the city or renamed the city, we cannot tell for sure. But the interesting thing is this: whereas Haran in the beginning of our study meant “Great Heights” but the name Haran here means: Bitter and Harsh.

Because he got his focus on his tragedy and off of God, he allowed the trial of his life miss out on every other blessing God intended for him.

Now there is no doubt that such a tragedy would set anyone back on their heels - that they would struggle with grief and heartache, and so that might be with you in the midst of your trial.

Listen, you can make it through the trial, through suffering, through the pain, if you will look to your God. Don’t miss the blessings ahead, don’t doubt what God can do for you still

Brother Abney testimony: The Abney’s were missionaries in the Philippines for several years. They had a successful ministry there. But then tragedy struck when their 9 year old daughter the youngest of their three fell out of tree and passed away. They understand tragedy, they lived it.

I asked Brother Abney how long it was that he felt like he couldn’t go on, the he was set back on his heels - how long was the severe hurt, he said for about 4 months - and it was probably a year before he could get back to a semblance of normality.

God’s got something better for you through the tragedy.

Keep the focus on Christ,

Forget those things which are behind.

Terah’s Lesson

Gen 11:24-32