The Sins of the Fathers, Part 5 (Genesis 12-16)

   “Now the Lord had said to Abram, get thee out of thy country” the land of Haran (Genesis 11:31-32) named after his brother, the father of Lot.  “Get thee out… from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee.  And I will make thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: And in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”  

   The call to Abram to come out from his people and his home land is another turning point in the history of God’s covenant with man, just as it was a turning point when God cursed the earth for Adam’s sake. And again when destroying all living creatures, save those within the ark, always to preserve a faithful remnant.  Also when the imagination of man’s hearts again became evil from his youth (Genesis 8:21), He confounded the language.

   What was the first thing Abram did as he went about to obey God’s command to come out from his family and home land?  “So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; (But) Lot went with him… his brother’s son.” (Genesis 12:4). Why did he take Lot?  Lot proved to be nothing but trouble until they separated in Genesis 13:5-11.  The Lord appeared to Abram in the plain of Moreh, ...