We have already said enough about the separation which was effected
by Abram's journey; but we may just notice that the departure from
his father's house was but the necessary result of the gulf between
them and him, which had been opened by his faith. They were
idolaters; he worshipped one God. That drove them farther apart than
the distance between Sichem and Haran. When sympathy in religion was
at an end, the breach of all other ties was best. So to-day, whether
there be outward separation or no, depends on circumstances; but
every true Christian is parted from the dearest who is not a
Christian, by an abyss wider than any outward distance can make. The
law for us is Abram's law, 'Get thee out.' Either our faith will
separate us from the world, or the world will separate us from our
faith and our God.

The companionship of Lot, who attaches himself to Abram, teaches
that religion, in its true possessors, exercises an attractive
influence over even common natures, and may win them to a loftier
life. Some weak eyes may discern more glory in the sunshine tinting
a poor bit of mist into ruddy light than in the beam which is too
bright to look at. A faithful Abram will draw Lot after him.

'They went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of
Canaan they came.' Compare this singular expression with chapter xi.
31, where we have Terah's emigration from Ur described in the same
terms, with the all-important difference in the end, 'They came' not
into Canaan, but 'unto Haran, and dwelt there.' Many begin the
course; one finishes it. Terah's journeying was only in search of
pasture and an abode. So he dropped his wider scheme when the
narrower served his purpose. It was an easy matter to go from Ur to
Haran. Both were on the same bank of the Euphrates. But to cross the