TERAH-THE MAN WHO STOPPED HALFWAY–
GENESIS 11:24-12:1.
There was once a family who lived in Ur of the Chaldeans. The father’s name was Terah, and he had three sons; Nahor, Haran and Abram. To Terah’s son Haran, was born a child who was named Lot. Like all families, they were a very mixed bunch, and, as often happens there was one son who was noticeably different from the others. This one was named Abram (Abraham), and he was always listed first among the brothers because God put a special calling upon his life. He was to be the first member of the Hebrew nation and very special to God.
There is very much which could be said and written about Abram, but it is about the others of the family who are to be the subjects of this Blog. Abram was like a planet around which, like asteroids, the other members of the family circled and were ultimately influenced.
We know from Joshua 24:2, that Terah worshipped idols and possibly the rest of the family, except Abram. According to Rabbinic sources they suggest that Abram discovered the One true God even before God called him. Neither is there any suggestion in Stephen’s defence in Acts 5:1-53 that Abram was an idol worshipper. However, when God’s call came to him in Genesis 12:1-3, it had a profound effect, not just on Abram but the rest of the family. He obviously spoke to the family about God’s call and his proposed leaving of Ur. Such was Abram’s faith in God, that when he set out on his journey out of Ur, he had no idea as to where God was leading him.
The fact that Terah, Lot, and Sarai (Abram’s wife), uprooted themselves,(Haran died in Ur, and Nahor remained behind), and followed Abram did show a willingness to believe the veracity of Abram’s calling and revelation.
Both Terah’s and Lot’s interest and curiosity must have been aroused for them to go with Abram. No doubt Terah talked with Abram for many hours as they journeyed northward from Ur. They finally came to Haran (or Charon), which was the half-way point between Ur and Canaan. The family then settled in Haran for a number of years, then Abram, Sarai, and Lot departed for Canaan. Terah, however remained in Haran for another sixty years, at the end of which he died. Who knows, God may have arranged it in this way because Terah was becoming a drag on Abram, thus preventing him from fulfilling God’s plan and purposes.
There are two possible ways to consider Terah’s life. One way is to assume that through Abram’s experience and calling by God, Terah too had become a believer and given up worshipping his idols, and was willing to follow the One true God. In Genesis 11:31 we read, “Terah took Abram his son, and Lot……,” does suggest a position of leadership regarding the family move and a practical faith in the whole event.
Alternatively, Genesis 12:1 says, “Now the Lord said to Abram, go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house…” Abram alone received both the calling and the instructions and was therefore the prime mover in the whole venture. The fact that we are told Terah took them would only be to give him the honour as to his position within the family. Also, with Joshua 24:2 written many years later and still calling him an idolater it could be that he had never really changed his beliefs.
So then, in Terah we see two types of Christian enquirer. Firstly, we see the person who comes into contact with a Christian and realises that his own life is lacking. He asks questions of the Christian, and the unbeliever begins to go to Church with him, and as a result begins to make changes in his life. So, he begins the journey of faith toward the place of promised fulfilment. However, like Terah, who lived in Haran for sixty years after the departure of Abram for Canaan, the enquirer never reaches the place of faith in Christ. He has tasted of the good things of the Gospel, but the pull of his old life is too much. Like Terah, he can only stand there and watch others going on to enjoy the life of faith with God.
The second type of Terah, is the person who enjoys the company of Christians. He will spend time with them and even ask them questions about their faith, but does not see any need to make changes in his own life. He doesn’t swear and use foul language, or act selfishly or unlovingly, or nastily when in Christian company, but at home or in his place of work, he is a different man. Like Terah, he may be quite willing to stay where he is. Perhaps he may be somewhat envious of the Christian way of life, but he is happy to see Christians enjoy their faith, and to watch them go about their life, but make no effort to follow after them.
In our contact with people, we meet many “Terahs” or one sort of another. Who among us has not talked to a person about their faith; encouraged them to come to Church; or even to accept Christ as Lord and Saviour; even seen them begin to respond to the teachings of the Gospel, only to see them fall away and go back to their old life? How many hours have been spent talking to someone and answering questions, only to be told, “I’m happy with my life as I am, thank you very much?”
We must not be downcast by these experiences. The Lord Jesus had them too. What we have said to another, may be just one small link in the chain which will one day result in them being saved. God has a time for everything, and your word at any one time may be something God can use ultimately to later bring that person to faith, so do not be discouraged if you do not succeed in winning a person to Christ. It’s all in God’s hands.
God bless you
John.