The Choosing of A Chosen People
Part 1 of
5
The Selection of
Abraham
Terah Takes
Leave
...And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the
son of Haran, his son's son, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram's
wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land
of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there...
Genesis
11:31
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...So Abram went, 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...
Genesis 12:4
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To reconcile both accounts of Abraham's journey
towards Canaan and properly understand the special significance of Genesis 12,
we must have a better appreciation for who Abraham was and the environment he
came from.
1 And Joshua gathered all the tribes of
Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and
for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before
God. 2 And Joshua said unto all the people: 'Thus said the LORD, the God of
Israel: Your fathers dwelt of old time beyond the River, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the
father of Nahor; and they served other gods. 3 And I took
your father Abraham from beyond the River, and led him throughout all the land
of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.
Joshua 24
Based on
this passage in Joshua, the 'Midrash' recounts a story of Abraham as a young boy
growing up in the house of Terah:
Abraham was a small child in Ur of the Chaldeans surrounded by pagan
worship. His own father, Terah, owned a shop selling idols to the residents of
Ur. But even as a young boy, Abraham already questioned the wisdom and validity
of pagan worship. One day, Terah leaves Abraham in charge of the idol store.
Abraham lifts a large stick and begins smashing all of the idols and then places
his stick in the hands of the largest idol. When Terah returns and sees all of
his merchandise in ruins, he furiously turns to his son and cries out, "Abraham,
what did you do?!" Pointing to the largest idol, Abraham responds, "I didn't do
anything, this idol smashed all of the others." Terah's anger flared even more,
"Are you mad? You know that idol has no power to harm any of the other statues!"
At which point, Abraham turns innocently to his father and asks, "Then why do
you pray to him?"
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Christian Friends of
Israeli CommunitiesPO Box
50833Colorado Springs, CO
80949-0833800-647-3344 www.cfoic.com
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