Genesis 12:4-9
2007.Jan.06 19:45
First Excursions
Read Genesis 12:4-9 | Full Chapter
Abram was seventy-five years old when the LORD told him to leave the city of Haran. He obeyed and left with his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions and slaves they had gotten while in Haran.
(Genesis 12:4-5, CEV)
So, Abram sets out as his father had begun, to Canaan. There’s not much discussion of the trip itself. The family’s stay in Haran had been profitable, but God told Abram to set off for Canaan, and so he and his wife, Sarai, with Lot and a number of slaves in tow, head off. I’d find it interesting to know more of the reactions of Sarai, Lot and the slaves to this journey. In any event, gold stars for the lot for obedience to Jehovah.
When they came to the land of Canaan, Abram went as far as the sacred tree of Moreh in a place called Shechem. The Canaanites were still living in the land at that time, but the LORD appeared to Abram and promised, “I will give this land to your family forever.” Abram then built an altar there for the LORD.
(Genesis 12:6-7, CEV)
For the record, I don’t know why the tree of Moreh is sacred, and I’m not going to try to find out. Jehovah appears to Abram again at this point and promises that he will give this land to Abram’s family. The note that the Canaanites were still living in the land may be a bit of humor, seeing as I’m not sure there ever was a time since Abram showed up that there weren’t Canaanites in Canaan. But I could be wrong there.
In either event, Abram builds an altar before Jehovah. This is an act of worship. And I like that Abram obeys first before building the altar. It’s easy but incorrect to thing that worshipping God is more important than obedience. Indeed, I feel that worship that is not grounded in obedience is inherently rude to God.
Abram traveled to the hill country east of Bethel and camped between Bethel and Ai, where he built another altar and worshiped the LORD. Later, Abram started out toward the Southern Desert.
(Genesis 12:8-9, CEV)
And then Abram and company travel around some more. He continues to worship, and I’d like to assume that the rest of the group also worships Jehovah, although it’s not recorded here. I do want to note that the family spends time that doesn’t seem “world-changing”. But in those times that aren’t full of “events” can be times of growing closer to God. Just stuff to ponder.
