Genesis 11:10-32 What Happened?

The genealogy in Genesis 5 kept mentioning, “… and he died.”  The one here had more hope, saying repeatedly, “… his son was born.”

Somewhere between Noah’s son Shem and Abram things went wrong, because we see Shem watching and worshiping as Noah sacrifices doves upon leaving the ark, but Abram, Shem’s great-times-seven grandson is living in Ur worshiping idols.  Abram will receive his call from the God of glory as chapter 12 opens, but it may have happened just before the end of chapter 11, my commentary says.  Abram was to take his wife only and go where God would show him, but his dad also wanted to go, and seemed to have directed the travel out of Ur to Haran.  But there he settled though they’d planned to go to Canaan.  Abram’s brother Nahor was the man who stayed, whether because he believed God’s message and knew he wasn’t included, or because he thought Abram was crazy!

Abram’s dad was the man who stopped.  Again, perhaps he finally got God’s message, or else God took him out of the family through death.  That left only Abram’s nephew Lot, who became eventually the man who strayed by moving to Sodom.  Finally, later in the story, Abram and Sarai, the old childless couple whom we’d probably vote “least likely to start a family, much less a nation” would be where God would have them.

My commentary also contrasted the start of the chapter with its end.  At Babel, “the world depended on large numbers of powerful people in order to accomplish things, but God chose two weak people and started a new nation.  The people of Babel wanted to make a name for themselves, but God promised to make Abram’s name great.  The workers at Babel followed the wisdom of this world, but Abraham and Sarah trusted the Word of God.  Babel was built by the energy of the flesh and the motivation of pride, but the nation of Israel was built by the grace and power of God and in spite of human weakness.”

Father, You know how I love seeing “but God” in Your Word.  I immediately pay attention.  I want my life to reflect a trust in You like Abraham’s, despite what the world’s wisdom says.  Keep me on the path You’ve chosen for me, wherever it leads.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford