Terah

Even though Peter says, “His [God’s] divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him…” (II Peter 1:3a), the Bible does not tell us everything and leaves a lot of details out. I have decided that it must mean that some things are not that important and are unnecessary for us to know. On the other hand, I’ve also decided that there are other things that are very important, but they are “hidden” from us. I think that this was done intentionally so that we would seek God’s wisdom in knowing the difference between what’s important and what’s not. I also think that it can ultimately lead us to knowing God better.

One of the things that make me stroke my chin and go, “Hmm…” are the small references to Terah, Abraham’s father. The Bible tells us that Terah (as well as Abraham) lived in a distant land and worshipped other Gods (Joshua 24:2). The Bible also tells us that one day Terah took Lot, Abram (Abraham), and Sarai and set out from Ur and headed to Canaan. The Bible also tells us that when they came to Haran, they settled there (Genesis 11:31).

In the very next chapter, God speaks to Abram and says, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you” (Genesis 12:1). A few verses later we find out that Abram settled in Canaan and God said that He would give Abram this land (Genesis 12:5-7).

This is where my imagination kicks in and I begin to ask questions like, “Did God speak to Terah? Did Terah hear the voice of God? Did Terah hear God’s voice before Abraham and did God tell Terah to go to Canaan?”

God hasn’t answered me and hasn’t filled in the details yet, but this much I do know. The Old Testament tells us a lot about Abraham’s life and the New Testament has numerous references to him. In the 11th chapter of the book of Hebrews, the chapter that we refer to as the “Hall of Faith,” Abraham is described as a stranger or alien in a foreign land seeking for the city whose architect and builder was God (Hebrews 11:8-10).

On the other hand, Terah is mentioned in only a few short verses in the Bible, most are in a genealogy in Genesis, and no reference to him in the New Testament. The striking contrast between him and his son Abraham is found in this epitaph, “Terah…set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there. Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Haran” (Genesis 11:31-32). Hmmm…I wonder if God is telling us something or am I reading too much into the text?