In the second half of Genesis Chapter 11, the family tree of a very significant man, Abram (his new name "Abraham" is mentioned frequently throughout the Bible), is documented. There is also a brief account of his travels to the city of Haran. The account culminates in Terah (Abram's father), Abram, Sarai (Abram's wife), and Lot (Abram's nephew) moving from an area known as Ur of the Chaldeans (near the mouth of the Euphrates River; modern day Iraq) to the city of Haran (probably named after Terah's son, Haran) following the death of Haran (he died in the presence of his father). It is pretty safe to assume, Terah deeply grieved the death of his son, Haran. It is quite likely that Terah named the city after this son as a memorial, in addition to ensuring Haran's child, Lot, was taken care of.
Parents never expect to bury their own children, so when it happens (as it did to Terah), it is quite common for parents to experience great depths of mourning and grief at the loss of their own child. Abram was certainly privy to the pain his father, Terah, felt regarding Haran's death. Regardless, at some point, God approaches Abram with a challenge (Gen 12:1-3) to put his faith in the Lord, first and foremost in his life...even ahead of any ministry of comfort to Terah (his father), or any of his other grieving relatives. God's challenge to Abram presents him with the crisis of leaving the known (his family and homeland), for the unknown (not knowing where he was going). But, as God is oft to do, Abram is promised a great reward, if Abram is willing to step out in faith, trusting in the Lord. God always rewards the faith-filled man or woman. Jesus promised on multiple occasions, "It will be done to you according to your faith." (Matt 8:13; Matt 9:29; Matt 15:28; Mark 10:52)
Since Abram chose to trust the Lord, by leaving his family and homeland and following Him wherever He led, God fulfilled His promises to Abram to make of him (1) a great nation, (2) a blessed man, (3) a great name, (4) a man who blesses others, (5) a man in whom all the families of the earth will be blessed. These covenant promises from God to Abram were quite astounding, considering that Abram's wife, Sarai, had a barren womb.
Abram modeled for us all how we should respond to God's ongoing, open invitations to trust Him, as recorded in Gen 12:4, "So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him..." Because Abram's frequent, successful demonstrations of trust in the Lord are reckoned unto him as righteousness, and the Lord desires that we follow in the footsteps of this faith-pioneer, Abram is often referred to as "the father of faith."
The best illustration of Abram believing on the Lord and His faithfulness unto a place of righteousness is found in God's promise to him of an heir that would come from his own ancient body when Abram was still childless. The passage reads this way...
Gen 15:1-6 1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying,
"Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you;
Your reward shall be very great."
2 Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" 3 And Abram said, " Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir." 4 Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir." 5 And He took him outside and said, "Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them." And He said to him, " So shall your descendants be." 6 Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
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