Terah left Ur and headed to Canaan with his son Abram and his grandson Lot. But when he got to the land of Haran (also the name of his son (Lot's father) who had died in Ur), they stopped. Only after Terah died, did Abram finish the journey to Canaan.
So maybe the father was ordered by God, but he some reason to disobey and Abram was given the order afterward. I have always been fascinated by this story as people, particularly those with wealth and power, just didn't move from where they were from in those days.
Pikes to the backs of the head would certainly inspire some new ideas like "let's get the heck out of here!"
Does anyone know what Melchisideck (sp?) might have had to do with any of this? Some time ago, I recall reading something interesting about this, can’t remember exactly what.