We know Abraham as the great patriarch of the Old Testament. Through his line came Jesus, our Lord God, and Savior. Therefore, today we will look at his genealogical line, of which people kept until Jesus was born. It begins with Terah, who was Abraham’s father. However, in the beginning, Abraham was named Abram by his mother and was later changed to Abraham by God. He had two brothers called Nahor and Haran. It was Haran and his wife that begat Lot. So Abraham was Lot’s uncle. What is sad is that Haran died soon after, even before his father Terah. Around this time Abraham and his brother Nahor each got married. Sarai, before she was called Sarah by God, was given to Abram, while Nahor was given to Milcah. Milcah is the daughter of Haran, which is Abram and Nahor’s brother. All this written and says, “and Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot. And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees. And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.” (Genesis 11:26-29)
So now our focus turns to Abram and his wife Sarai. Soon after they were married, Abram’s father Terah decided to lead them and Lot to a new land called after his deceased son, Haran. Abram’s dad then lived many more years and died at the ripe age of two hundred and five years. What is sad about this time is that Sarai was barren, meaning she was incapable of having children. Many people go through this for many years until they finally are able to have a child or two. However, others are not so fortunate and never have children. This does cause much stress in marriages, where some people even divorce because of this, which is so sad. As for what took place in Haran, it is written, “but Sarai was barren; she had no child. And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.” (Genesis 11:30-32) As we read in further chapters, we will see how Sarai not having children affects her marriage with Abram. I pray that you will also keep up with me as you also read the different chapters in Genesis. Amen.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray that You will help me become the type of father I should be to my two daughters. Help me to also be the husband I should be to my wife. You first introduced my wife to me and we got married. Soon after, you gave unto us children and I am so grateful. I don’t always act this way and I am sorry. My children and my wife have specific needs and I pray that I may be able to fill their needs one day at a time as You lead me by the hand. Give me guidance and direction, that I might be led in doing things for them that also glorifies You in return. I know that I have not always been the best father to my children or the best husband to my wife. I have said some things that are very hurtful to them and I am so very sorry. So Lord, give me words to speak when I am around my kids and my wife. Even if they start to argue with me, help me speak in a way that will dissipate the anger, that subjects arise. I know that I am not perfect. I have done things that have caused me to not love my wife in the way she should be. But all this can be mended and be made whole once again. Not on my own doing, but with You helping me know what things need to be changed for the better. It does take three for marriages to get better, which includes You, and I pray that my wife will also learn to respect me as I love her. Help us both in these efforts. I love You, Lord. I give You praise. Amen.
