It wasn't all smooth sailing. There were threats, escapes, and a family's journey toward a new destiny. Let's dive into the story of how Abraham, or Avram as he was originally known, found himself on the move.
For two years, Abraham dedicated himself to spreading the word of God. He wasn't alone in this mission. His wife, Sarah, a remarkable woman in her own right, worked alongside him. Abraham preached to the men, while Sarah guided the women. She was more than just a helpmate; some traditions even say she possessed greater prophetic abilities than her husband, even being called Iscah, "the seer," because of it.
But this peaceful period was about to be shattered.
King Nimrod, a powerful and, let's say, not-so-benevolent ruler, had a disturbing dream. He dreamt that he and his army were near the fiery furnace where Abraham had been thrown (remember that story?). In the dream, Abraham emerged from the flames and chased after him with a drawn sword. While fleeing, Abraham threw an egg at Nimrod's head. From the egg sprang a massive stream, drowning Nimrod's entire army, save for the king and three others who resembled him in stature and dress. The stream then reverted to an egg, from which a chick emerged, flew to Nimrod, and pecked out his eye!
Terrifying, right?
Understandably, Nimrod was shaken. According to Legends of the Jews by Ginzberg, he immediately summoned his wise men and magicians to interpret the dream. One of them, named Anoko, stepped forward with a grim prediction. Anoko warned Nimrod that the dream foreshadowed the misfortunes Abraham and his descendants would bring upon him. He foretold war, annihilation of Nimrod's army, and even Nimrod's eventual death at the hands of Abraham's lineage. Anoko ominously reminded Nimrod that the stars had foretold this fate 52 years prior, at Abraham's birth. "As long as Abraham liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be stablished, nor thy kingdom," Anoko declared.
Nimrod, taking this warning to heart, sent his servants to seize and kill Abraham. But Eliezer, a slave Abraham had received as a gift from Nimrod himself, caught wind of the plan. He raced to warn Abraham, urging him to flee. Abraham, wisely, took refuge in the house of Noah and Shem, hiding there for a month. When the king's officers couldn't find him, Nimrod eventually gave up the search.
However, the danger remained palpable. During a visit to his son's hiding place, Abraham proposed a radical solution to his father, Terah: they should leave their land and move to Canaan. He reasoned that Nimrod's honors were superficial and that true value lay in serving God. As we find in Legends of the Jews, Abraham appealed to his father, saying, "Consider that it was not for thy sake that Nimrod overloaded thee with honors, but for his own profit... Hearken unto my voice, O my father, let us depart for the land of Canaan, and serve the God that hath created thee, that it may be well with thee."
Noah and Shem supported Abraham's plea, and Terah finally agreed to leave. So, Terah, Abraham, and Lot, the son of Haran, along with their households, set out for Haran. They settled there, finding the land and its people welcoming. Abraham's piety and humane spirit influenced many, and they began to follow his teachings and fear God.
But here's a beautiful detail: Terah's willingness to leave his homeland for Abraham's sake, even before God directly commanded Abraham to do so, was considered a great merit in God's eyes. According to the legends, Terah was granted the privilege of witnessing Abraham's eventual reign over the entire world. This came to pass when a miracle occurred: the birth of Isaac to the elderly Abraham and Sarah. People from all over came to marvel at this event, and Abraham shared his story with Nimrod and how God had saved him. In admiration, they appointed Abraham as their king! It is even said that coins were minted bearing the images of an elderly couple on one side and a young couple on the other, symbolizing Abraham and Sarah's rejuvenation at Isaac's birth.
Terah lived for many years to see his son's glory, passing away when Isaac was 35 years old. And the reward for his good deed didn't end there. Despite his past sins, Terah's repentance was accepted by God, and he entered Paradise after his death. After all, it was his fault that Abraham came close to losing his life at the hands of Nimrod, but he was able to atone for this.
So, what does this story tell us? It's a reminder that even before the grand covenants and divine pronouncements, faith is a journey marked by choices, risks, and the quiet acts of courage and loyalty that can shape not only our own destinies but also the destinies of those around us. It’s a story about how family, even flawed, can be part of a bigger divine plan. And it shows us that even a simple decision like choosing to support a loved one's spiritual path can have profound and lasting consequences, earning favor in the eyes of God.