Genesis 12 – Acknowledging God
In 2018 From Creation Terah, Abram’s father leaves Ur Kasdim to place distance between his family and King Nimród. Terah was 140, and Abram was 70 years old. Terah stayed in Charan, and Abram continued to The Land of Canaan. Lord told Abram, ‘Go,’ meaning Go to Eretz Canaan. He traveled between Canaan and Charan until he was seventy-five old.
Genesis 11.31
Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai, his daughter-in-law, aka Iscah, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldeans, to go to the land of Canaan; and they came to Charan, and lived there.
Genesis 12.2
And He, The Lord Said to Avram, ‘Go! Get out from your land and from your family and from your father’s house [and go] to a land that I will show you.
That’s was the first part of Lech – Lechah – ‘Go’ – ‘Get out!’ At this point, chronologically, we pick up in Genesis 15. God Willing, we will review those materials several discussions from now. Right now, we will examine what led up to moving from Ur of the Chaldeans to Eretz Canaan.
Each of us goes through our process of acknowledging God. It may be in this life or another, but God Willing, we will get there. Abram was born into a political home. Tarah was an honored Nobleman of the court and the most trusted Minister to King Nimród. Also, Tarah was the owner of an Idol Factory. He designed and manufactured idols – false gods. Rabbi Moshe Weissman, The Midrash Says (Brooklyn, New York: Benei Yakov Publications 1980), p. 117 As Avram grew, he questioned The logic of idols.
Avram broke all his father’s idols – which were many- with an ax. He then left the ax in the largest idol’s hand and told his father that the largest idol had destroyed all the other idols. That was not true. Terach realized the senselessness of Avram’s story. He knew idols could not do what Avram claimed. Avraham used this to persuade his father to believe in the One True God. Terach refused. Terah took his son Avram before King Nimrod. Avram repeated the story to King Nimrod. He also knew idols could not do what Avram claimed. Avram used this incident to share about HaShem, the One True God, with King Nimrod.
Also in the Midrash, it tells us that Terach stopped manufacturing idols before he died. He eventually returns to HaShem God. The Midrash tells us Terah once went away, leaving Abram to sell them in his place. A woman came with a plateful of flour and requested him [to offer it to the idols]. So he took a stick, broke them, and put the stick in the largest one’s hand. When his father returned, he demanded, ‘What have you done to them?’
[Avram replied] I cannot conceal it from you… A woman came with a plateful of fine meal and requested me to offer it to them. One claimed, “I must eat first,” while another declared, “I must eat first.” Thereupon the largest arose, took the stick, and broke them.’
[His father cried out] Why do you make sport of me? [Do they have] any knowledge! Your ears [should] listen to what your mouth is saying. [Terach] seized [Avram] and delivered him to Nimrod.
[Nimrod said] Let us worship the fire!
[Avram countered], Let us instead worship water, which extinguishes the fire,
[Nimrod agreed] Then let us worship water!
[Avram objected] Let us instead worship the clouds which bear the water.
[Fine said Nimrod] Then let us worship the clouds!
[Avram objected again], Let us instead worship the winds which disperse the clouds.
[Nimrod agreed], Then let us worship the wind!
[Avraham said] Let us instead worship human beings, who withstand the wind.
[Nimrod said] You are just bandying words. We will worship naught but the fire. Behold, I will cast you into it, and let your God whom you adore come and save you from it. Now Charan was standing there undecided. If Abram is victorious, [thought he]; I will say that I am of Abram’s belief, while if Nimrod is victorious, I will say that I am on Nimrod’s side. When Abram descended into the fiery furnace and was saved, [Nimrod] asked him, Of whose belief are you?
[Charan replied] Of Abram’s thereupon he seized and cast him into the fire; his inwards were scorched, and he died in his father’s presence. Hence it is written, AND CHARAN DIED IN THE PRESENCE OF (‘AL PENE) HIS FATHER TERAH. See Midrash Rabbah Bereisheit. In Genesis 15 Lord shares about Abrams deliverance.
Genesis 15.7
And said to him, I, Lord who brought you out of Mah-Ur Kasdim, [Fiery furnaces] to give you this land to inherit it.
At the time, the Lord God Instructed Avram to leave his father’s house. Terach was an idol maker who was responsible for the death of his son Charan. From this, we learn boundaries with which to determine honor for parents. Terach places the soul of his children in danger by manufacturing idols. Terach made a business off of evil. Terach made a profit off of selling what was forbidden. Charan died because of his father. Terach taught his children to do evil. These are among some of the reasons our Creator Instructed Avram to leave his father’s house. So when Avram was seventy, he left Terach when the Lord God Said ‘Go.’
As we learn about God and our development, and our understanding changes. Perhaps some of us will face challenges because we want to know more about God while those around us choose to remain where they are. As a result, we may have conflicts and issues with those we love who want to stay as they are. So what do we do? We show them lovingkindness and pray. We take the opportunities given to us to share. We are not into breaking down doors or pressuring others. God allows each of us the freedom to choose. We should follow that example.
May Lord bless each who studies Torah and will try to learn.
Good Shabbat
Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk
