A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns

conversion of Terah was the reason for the family’s departure from Ur, one would think he would
have chosen somewhere other than Haran for his new home.
Two other reasons might be suggested for the family move. The first may have been
associated with the death of Haran (Gen. 11:28). The Hebrew expression ‘al pene literally means
Haran died “upon the face” of his father. The expression emphasizes that Terah saw and survived
his son’s death. According to the customs of Ur, the body of Haran would have been placed in a
baked ceramic coffin and kept in the family home. The death of Haran in this way would be
continually remembered by the family.
The significance of this becomes apparent with the discovery by Sir Leonard Wooley of
an anti-Semitic racial prejudice which was becoming increasingly common during the time of
Abram. Tablets found at Ur reveal a general northerly migration of the Habiru tribe (cf. 14:13,
Abram the Hebrew) which was usually the result of these Aramaean settlers attempting to escape
economic and other forms of oppression. The death of Haran may have been the result of an anti-
Semitic attack; i.e., a mob lynching or riot.
A second reason for Terah’s departure has been suggested in the politics of the day as it
related to Terah’s economic interests. Abraham’s possession of camels (12:16; 24:10) suggests
Terah may have been involved in international trade to some degree. About the time of Terah’s
departure from Haran, Hammurabi was engaged in blocking the overland trade routes north of
Ur. Moving to Haran would insure greater freedom to move his goods to other cities.
The third reason is that God had called Abraham and he would not desert his family, so
Terah went with Abraham. Terah’s reasons for leaving Ur are not known. In his address before
the Sanhedrin, Stephen reminded his listeners: “The God of glory appeared to our father
Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said to him, `Get out of
your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you’” (Acts 7:2-3).
When he was called of God, Abram left Ur for the nomadic life of the wilderness. The shores of
the Great Sea (Mediterranean Sea) were called the edge of the world. When Abraham met the
“God of glory,” he was ready to follow Him to the edge of the world.
“The God of glory” is one of the eight characteristic names of God in Scripture. The
Sanhedrin which Stephen was addressing had a high respect for the temple largely because it
was thought to be the dwelling place of the Shekinah glory, the essential presence of God
Himself long before a temple or tabernacle had been raised by the Jews. This same God of glory
appeared to Abram in Ur. Later, James, the pastor of the Jerusalem church of which Stephen was
a deacon, ascribed the title “the Lord of Glory” to Jesus (James 2:1). Stephen may have been
claiming it was Christ Himself who appeared to Abram in Ur. Jesus on one occasion had told
some religious leaders, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was
glad” (John 8:56). This was the first of many meetings between God and Abraham.
THE EIGHT CHARACTERISTIC NAMES OF GOD
The God of Glory (Ps. 29:3; Act 7:2)
The God of Comfort (Rom. 15:5, 2 Cor. 1:3)
The God of Hope (Rom. 15:13)
The God of Love (2 Cor. 13:11)
The God of Patience (Rom. 15:5)
The God of Peace (Rom. 15:33, Phil. 4:9)
The God of All Grace (1 Peter 5:10)
The God of Truth (Deut. 32:4)