They came to Haran

Genesis 11:26-32

Introduction:

            life events can bring disappointment with God

            those life events can have an impact that affects the outcome of their spiritual life

            today we want to look at a little-known Bible character by the name of Terah

            he had three sons; one of whom was well-known

(Observations)

11: 26 Terah had three sons by the name of Abram, Nahor, and Haran

            Terah's ancestors all began to have children around the age of 30; his was at 70

            the meaning of the names:

                        Terah-no special meaning

                        Nahor-means snorer

                        Haran-means mountain climber

                        Abram-means high father

11: 28 Haran was Lot's father

            Haran (Terah's son) died in Ur of the Chaldeans

11: 31 Terah took Abram, lot, Sarai

                        went from Ur to go to Canaan (promised land)

                        came to Haran and settled there

11: 32 Terah died in Haran

(Interpretation)

            Terah had high expectations for at least two of his sons

            but Nahor may have been a disappointment

            with the name that means "snorer" he probably slept a lot, and disturbed everyone
            else around him

            When you look through Terah's ancestry, you can see that most of his ancestors
            had children around the age of 30 to 32 years old; Terah was 70 years old;

            disappointment having to wait forty extra years to have children

            the greatest disappointment and blow to Terah's life, was when his son Haran died

            eg. Having to tell my father that my brother had passed away (1996)6)

            remember three times when my father cried; 2 was over my brother's death

            The Lord spoke to Abram to go to a new land (Canaan)

            compare with Acts 7:2 which shows Abram's call before arriving at Haran

            verse 31 says it was under Terah's leadership that they headed for Canaan

            but when they came to Haran, they settled there

                        Hebrew word for settled means to "sit down"t;

                        Hebrew word for Haran is different than the Hebrew word for the son Haran

                        the place Haran means parched, to glow, burn, or incite passion

                                    it can be translated to "be angry"

            Terah overcame the obstacle of his son's death, but when he came to the place
            that reminded him of his tragedy, he sat down, and didn't move on

            the irony is that in Genesis 27:43-44, Rebecca sends Jacob to Haran until his
            brother Esau's anger is overer

            Principal - Terah never got to see the promised land because he sat down in the
            place of dryness, in a place of anger, that reminded him of his tragedydy

            Example of a child who doesn't want to obey.  He sits down.  ;

Called "passive resistance"

12:1    had said to Abram (past tense)

12: 4   Abram departed as the Lord had originally spoken

12: 5   departed to Canaan...  Came to Canaan - obeyed in faith

            Example of youth pastor fired from church for leading "wrong people" to Christ

            it was a blow that he never recovered from

(Application)

We have the choice of walking in the footsteps of Terah or Abram

            Terah never made it to Canaan, which became the promised land

            biblical obedience is an expression of faith in the person you obey

there are three kinds of sons in the church

            Nahor - those who are asleep, unable to discern the signs of the times

                        unaware of the impending return of Christ

            Haran - the mountain climber;

                        achieves great heights by the power of the flesh and self effort

                        is ultimately removed by God

            Abram - high father - achieves great heights by faith in the one he obeys

Summary

            take risk

            embrace the unfamiliar

            reach beyond yourself