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Abraham
His Divine Calling
Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. 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
(Bible Study Online Article Covers : Genesis 12:1-9)
Short Recap
In the previous articles, we took a closer look at Abraham's life before God called him. We went over some things regarding what we'd covered up to this point in our journey. Our journey also included what we had encountered during the first 11 chapters of the book of Genesis.
Remember that these first 11 chapters made up what most would like to call (for studying purposes) -- The Creation Stage. We'd also explored the notion of how, from within this stage, God dealt with the world as a whole.
On top of this, we'd also learned about the major events that had happened up to this point from within our journey, which included: The Fall of Humanity - The Great Flood of Judgment - God's Magna Charta (the new world promise that was given to Noah and his family), the Tower of Babel and the Table of Nations. And remember that the one major thing that these events had in common is that they all dealt with the world as a whole.
Be that as it may, we now find ourselves leaving the Creation Stage and entering into what most would call the "Patriarchal Stage."
Now, from within this stage, we'll see that God's dealings with the human race have now been narrowed from the entire world to where He's now focused on building a foundation that deals with a single nation, which would later be known as Israel.
Know that this new focus by the Lord begins with one single man called Abram.
Now I'd stated in the last article that I had found it interesting that the previous 39 chapters from within the book of Genesis give the accounts of Abraham and his family, which covers about 350 years.
And again, our journey has now brought us towards the end of the eleventh chapter. We're now being told about Abraham's departure from the city of Ur:
"Terah 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 the city of Ur to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there." -- Genesis 11:31
Now, keep in mind that this passage is in reference to the first time that God had called Abraham. But also note that we also read in the passage that Abraham and his family had stopped their journey and settled in the city of Haran.
Bible Study Online - The Patriarchal Stage
The City of Haran
Now, when it comes to this particular city, known as "Haran," note that it was located approximately 600 to 650 miles northwest of the city of Ur. It's presumed that the city of Haran was the last green settlement that could have been found before one headed into the vast area known as "The Arabian Desert." Also note that the city of Haran was located on a major road that connected places like Syria, Asia Minor, Babylon, Assyria, and Egypt. Historical findings have also shown that this city followed in the same religious footsteps of the city of Ur, for they too worshiped "Nanna, the moon god."
Howbeit, we're now entering into the twelfth chapter of Genesis, and it's at this point that we find Abraham being reminded by God of his calling, once again:
"Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. 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. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." -- Genesis 12:1-3
Bible Study Online - The Patriarchal Stage
The City of Haran - Not Good?
Now it would be at this time that Abram's father Terah had just died, when God had reminded Abram about his calling for the second time. Now, make no mistake, the Lord had grand plans for Abram, and being that the city of Haran was just as bad as the city of Ur, when it came to their religious practices, for Abram to continue to settle there would not have been wise for him to do.
So Abram and his wife Sarai left the city of Haran, taking with them his nephew Lot and their servants, along with all the possessions that they had accumulated up to that point from their daily lives. The Sacred Record also takes the time to inform us that Abram was 75 years old when he left the city of Haran, in order to continue his journey across the vast Arabian Desert. And this would be the path that would eventually lead Abram and his group to the land of Canaan.
Bible Study Online - The Patriarchal Stage
A Place Called Shechem
However, before they would reach Canaan, Abram and his group would end up stopping at a place called Shechem, which was located on the outskirts of Canaan. For Shechem was the place where we would find that God would appear to Abram once again. In which He spoke: "The Lord appeared to Abram and said, 'To your offspring I will give this land.' So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him." - Genesis 12:7
Notice how there's a difference in this message, when compared to the one that God had given Abram (in regards to his calling) while he was back in the city of Haran: "Now the Lord had said to Abram: 'Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you.'" - Genesis 12:1
Remember that God had told Abram that he would show him a land back when he was in the city of Haran. But now that Abram had reached a particular place in his journey, God gave Abram confirmation, revealing that he was indeed in the right place, for the Lord had told Abram that the land he was now standing in would be given to his offspring. And after Abram had received this Word from the Lord, we now find that he built an altar unto the Almighty God.
Bible Study Online - The Patriarchal Stage
A Place Called Bethel
However, that may have been, we now move forward. Next, we find that Abram and his family would eventually leave Shechem, and it would be at this time that they headed out towards a place called Bethel. This was a place located twenty miles south. However, while Abram was in Bethel, we now find that he had built another altar unto the Lord.
Understand that Abram was now entering into idolatrous foreign lands. The building of the altars unto the Lord was a testament, which showed that Abram wasn't willing to compromise his commitment and dedication to the One True God, in order for him to fit in or please his new neighbors.
In the next Bible Study Online Article:
So we've now journeyed through the call of Abraham. Now we begin to move forward, and it is at this time that Abraham's faith is tested again. Remember that his faith had already been established, back when God called him out of the city of Ur. But now we find that Abraham will be faced with a new "faith test." I wonder. Will he pass?
May God blessings be upon you, and thank you for your support
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Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty
Continue Reading - The Current - Bible Study Online Series:
01) Introduction of Abraham - Before He was Called
02) <-CURRENT - BIBLE STUDY ONLINE - PAGE->
04) The Strife between Abram and Lot
06) Abram's Mission to Rescue Lot
10) Abraham the Father of a Multitude
Added to page 10) The Abrahamic Covenant and its Modification
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