I used to think Terah ‘missed the boat’ when he settled in Haran instead of following through on his original plan to go to Canaan. I had little sympathy for his disobedience.
Then a little research revealed that Haran was his oldest child, not Abraham. (Genesis 11:26, AMP) Sadly, Haran died before his father, in Ur of the Chaldees. (Genesis 11:28)
I think that this explains why Terah started out for Canaan but decided to stop in Haran instead.
And Terah took Abram his son, Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife, and they went forth together to go from Ur of the Chaldees into the land of Canaan; but when they came to Haran, they settled there. And Terah lived 205 years; and Terah died in Haran. (Genesis 11:31-32)
Haran may have been named by Haran, or named for him after he died. No matter. What is important is that Terah felt compelled, (by grief?), to change his plans and settle there.
Grief is hard, but we must never settle for what seems best to us, when God’s plans always call us forward into the new life he offers.
“Over the years I've seen people lose a spouse and then withdraw and lose interest in life, and I believe we need to resist that.”–Billy Graham
Prayer- Lord, give us the grace not to stop at our hurting hearts, but to move forward into the new life you offer. In Christ. Amen.
Be First to Comment