Gen. 12:1 – 9: Abram’s Call and Migration
As should be obvious, putting things in context is both very important and makes all the difference. Context, however, is a layered reality. In our story of Abram’s call and migration one layer is archeological. What do we know about this time in human history from sources other than the bible, this brief article on the website, “From About.com. Ancient / Classical History” present a summary that you might find of interest. http://bit.ly/zNWDOe. A review of the article would show that Abram was not the only person to migrate during this period. In fact, he probably was one of thousands. However, only his story is told and told from a definite point of view. There are psychological, sociological, economic layers too. But, ultimately, there is a religious layer and that is what the Bible is about. The other layers can help but they cannot replace the religious significance for us in our life. To that end, it helps to read the notes and then the passage itself. It also helps to have a few leading questions to prime the pump, as it were. Who are the characters in this story? What is the “when” of this story? And, most important, what’s the plot? Why is the story told? http://www.usccb.org/bible/genesis/12.
So who are the characters? We listed them. Annette was quick to say Lot. Dan mentioned persons and then read the note for us, “… servants and others who formed the larger household under the leadership of Abraham.” This note gives further context to the story. Abraham had a large household. What does this say about his economic status, does it tell us anything else about Abraham that you might not have thought of? Tim mentioned Sarai and also pointed out that mentioning the woman’s name was a change in telling of these stories.
Ken brought to our attention the Canaanites, v.6. Now in our versions of the Bible, verse 6 is in parenthesis. Why is that? What does it tell us? Who did that? The questions are only possible if there are parentheses. Yet these ( …) are evidence too of history, the original authors / editors didn’t include them; two marks and so many questions pointing to a larger context. Heber wondered if Abraham had a problem with the Canaanites. Heber’s question itself unknowingly makes assumptions that need to be clarified. Our author / editor write long after Abraham and often include information from their day that may or may not have even existed during the period of Abraham. Unfortunately there are a number of different accounts of the history of the Canaanites and the Israelites that would take us too far afield.
We continued listing the characters when Annette mentioned Abram himself and the Lord. Ken concluded the list by pointing out that Abraham’s kinfolk and his father’s [Terah] house.
We felt that the story doesn’t really tell us when other than to say that Abram was 75 years old. Reading the article on the “From About.com. Ancient / Classical History” website will give a plausible answer to the question, though.
By far the most important question, what is the plot of the story, its story line? Reading the first three verses might be sufficient for today. The Lord, without need of introduction, promises; one word that can hold so much of our life. Forgot for the moment what is promised but simply focus on who is doing the promising. What is the role of promise in our life? Pointing to a future … Filled with expectation … Hope … A statement in our distant past, addressing our unknown future. We are caught in the in-between [Metaxy – Greek for in between – and emblazoned on my license plate.]
Land, descendants, name, blessings – not merely for Abraham or his land, or his descendants, or his name, but “All the families of the earth will find blessing in you.” And today the three great monotheistic religions share in Abraham.
Does this story resonate? Our group went on to talk about migration, the migration of our ancestors many of whom came from Italy, our own personal migrations. Beyond and in some sense within all the layered reasons for all of us to migrate, move on, there is the one supervening meaning, the promise of the one who is faithful. The story points to the center of our life and gives that movement meaning but to discover the meaning is to believe, to allow the fundamental question of why am I here to be answered.