“Then came he out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.”
He gave him no inheritance here, not even enough ground to set his foot on. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child - the paradox is crucial: Abraham receives the promise of land without receiving land, possesses it by faith (Genesis 15) without possessing it physically. The 'no child' detail (Genesis 11:30) emphasizes the impossibility and thus the supernatural character of the promise. This establishes God's word as sufficient without institutional or material validation.
Church Fathers on Acts 7:4
Then came he out, it says, of the land of the Chaldeans Acts 7:4:— and that if one look closely into the matter, the Jews are of Persian origin: and that, without miracles, one must do as God bids, whatever hardships be the consequence; since the Patriarch left both the grave of his father and all that he had, in obedience to God's command. But if Abraham's father was not allowed to take part with him in the privilege of migrating to Palestine, because he was unworthy: much…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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