Abram Obeyed God

Genesis 12:1-9

Terah had originally set out to go to Canaan, about six hundred miles away. Because of the herds of cattle and sheep, they could not go directly. A herd of mature cattle such as the old cattle drives could only average eight to ten miles a day. Flocks and herds with calves and lambs would be limited to only two or three miles. After months of travel, Terah was only about half way to Canaan when he came to Haran and decided to stay there.

“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3)

After some time in Haran, God commanded Abram to leave his father's house and go to a land God would show him. Hebrews 11:8 makes it clear, Abram was going with no clear destination in mind. “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” God promised obedience would result in his posterity forming a great Nation, known throughout the world. Abram’s life, and that of his posterity would be a blessing to those around them. On the other hand, those who hated them would be cursed of God.

Any land they found could be and probably was claimed by someone. The present landholders were likely to resent intruders. While he had a large group of servants, it was still a pretty small group for invading another area. Nevertheless, Abram obeyed God’s command.

“So Abram departed, 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. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.” (Genesis 12:465)

In Haran, Abram had prospered, developing large herds of his own. When Abraham left, he was accompanied by his nephew, Lot. They took everything they had with no plans to return to Haran. Abram was seventy five when they left Haran. Terah had already died according to Acts 7:4. After months of travel, they arrived in Canaan, Traveling as far south as Shechem before stopping.

“And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.” (Genesis 12:6)

The land was already occupied by the Canaanite tribes, the group who were cursed because of Ham’s sin. It was difficult for Abram to find an area that someone else didn’t already claim.

“And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.” (Genesis 12:7)

When the Lord gave him reassurance about his being right, Abram took time to worship, building an altar in thanksgiving. Obedience to God did not relieve all the problems. The need for fresh grazing land forced him to move regularly.

“And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.” (Genesis 12:8)

Bethel wouldn’t receive that name until Jacob named it in Genesis 28, but it was an area Abram would visit repeatedly. Hai would later be called Ai in the book of Joshua.

“And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.” (Genesis 12:9)

The great herds Abram and Lot had forced frequent moves. The Canaanites also had cattle, and first claim to the grass, so Abram moved steadily to the south seeking new grazing. As long as the competition for grazing wasn’t severe, there was no serious conflict.