"Yahveh said to Abram: Go for yourself to the land that I shall show you."
Genesis 12:1-2
This is Yahveh’s first recorded communication with Abraham. Abraham had already left his home
city, Ur. He and his family were living at Haran, on the way towards the land of Canaan. (Genesis 11:31) Yahveh’s command
was for Abraham's own benefit. Unless he moved, he would neither have children, nor have an impact on society through his
teaching.
Why would Abraham be worthy of children in the Land of Canaan only? And why should his success in spreading
his message depend on where he lived? Wouldn’t he have a better chance of spreading his
teaching if he returned to Ur, a place he knew well, and had an organized society with which he could work.
Abraham's deepening relationship with Yahveh spread to his disciples, 'the souls he made in Haran', far
away from his home environment and advanced civilization. (Genesis 12:5) That was necessary, not only to give him
an opportunity to become associated with what was to become the Holy Land, but also to make the land itself holy by his
teachings.
Abraham and his family needed to break with the pagan nature of their society ~ and we do too.
