Tag: idols

The Road to Shur

Posted on by jovial_cynic

The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur.
Genesis 16:7 (NIV)

After being afflicted by Sarai, Hagar the Egyptian woman flees and is met by the angel at a spring near the road to Shur.

The road to Shur is the path back to Egypt. Sarai’s actions led Hagar to want to return to her old life. Back to destruction. Back to the idols of Egypt.

Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water.
Exodus 15:22 (NIV)

The road to Shur leads to the Desert of Shur. It should be considered miraculous to flee Egypt by way of it. It should be considered certain death to travel back to Egypt through it.

That the people of God would make Hagar flee into certain death is a great shame.

Monotheism

Posted on by jovial_cynic

Now Terah took his son Abram, and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and they departed together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan; and they went as far as Haran and settled there. The days of Terah were 205 years; and Terah died in Haran.
Genesis 11:31-32 (NASB)

Abram’s father Terah was going to Canaan, but settled in Haran and died there instead.

Haran means “path,” and is linked to an idea of “many roads,” as it was a major trade city. Many roads… many options. Perhaps it hinted at many gods. The Midrash teaches that Terah was an idol maker, so this link seems to fit.

But the Promise of God follows one singular path.