Long ago in a city called Ur there lived a man named Abram. He had a wife named Sarai. Ur was a big city and very busy and Abram's father Terah decided one day to leave. Abram and Sarai packed up all their belongings, for they were going to go too, as well as Abram's nephew Lot.
When people made a trip back then, they didn't pack up their car, fill it up with fuel and get on the road. There weren't any cars, there was no fuel and there were no big highways like we have today. Instead they packed up all their belongings, which may have been a tent, some clothes and a few pots and pans and put the packs on camels. They they would hop up and off they would go.
But Terah, Abram, Sarai and Lot were not just going on a short trip, they were heading for the land of Canaan over 600 miles away! And besides tents and pots and pans they had herds of sheep and cows to bring along with them. And they had to walk or ride their camels all the way.
After a long time they stopped in a place called Haran. Abram's father was very old by now and he died in this place. Now Abram had to make a decision about whether they should stay in Haran or keep going. What do you think he should do?
Well, that night God came to Abram and told him to keep going. He also made a very special promise to Abram. God told Abram that He would make him a great nation and that He would bless those who blessed him and curse those who cursed him.
In the morning Abram and his company left Haran heading to wherever God would lead them. There was getting to be a lot of people and a nimals travelling together. Abram and Lot both had lots of sheep and cattle and herdmen to look after the sheep and cattle. As they travelled along they had to look out for places where the animals could have grass to eat and water to drink.
It wasn't long before Abram's herdmen and Lot's herdmen were quarelling about whose animals should have which waterhole and which patch of grass. Abram and Lot were upset about this and decided the time had come to go separate ways.
After Lot left, God came again to Abram and told him to look all around him. God promised that he would give all the land that Abram could see to him and his descendants. He also told him that he would make Abram's children as many as the dust of the earth and as many as the stars in the sky.
Have you ever tried to count all the stars in the sky or how many grains of dust there are? It's impossible, isn't it? But do you know that there are people alive today who are descendants of Abram? All the thousands of years that have passed since God said this to Abram there have been people being born all the time who are Abram's children. And do you know that you can become one of Abram's children just by believing in God and doing what He says?
Things to remember
Discussion
Ur was a grand city in Abram's time with wide streets, big houses, shops and even factories. Many of the people were rich and lived quiet peaceful lives. But one thing was wrong. They did not worship the one true God. They went to big temples to pray to the sun and moon. So God told Abram and his family to leave the big city and the comfort they had known. It would have been hard to leave, but Abram obeyed without question. He had faith that God knew what was best. Sometimes we may have to get away from where we feel comfortable so that our faith in God can grow.
Why did Abram leave Haran?
Who went with Abram?
How can you trust in God?
Activity Suggestions
Draw a picture of a camel, or a tent in the wilderness.
Find a recipe for lentil stew and unleavened bread, and have a meal like Abram may have.
Make a camel out of an egg carton (two cups), pipe cleaners (for the legs) and a pipe cleaner and cork for a head. Make holes with scissors at the base of the cups for the four legs and holes at each end for the neck and tail. Make one small hole in the wide flat end of the cork. Insert a pipe cleaner into each of the holes for the tail and legs. Insert one end of a pipe cleaner into the cork, and the other end into the hole at the head end of the egg cups. Add eyes, a mouth and paint if desired.