Why did God choose Canaan to be his nation on this earth rather than Iraq — the old Eden, which is really rich in oil?
—K. Moresi, New Zealand

When Abraham was called by God (Genesis 12.1-3) to migrate to Canaan, it was a land of flourishing city-states at the crossroads of the ancient world. The religion was developing a trend toward monotheism. The movement into Canaan was a step in the divine plan toward the redemption of man through Christ. The circumstances of the location and a population not adverse to monotheism were a fertile atmosphere for belief in Yahweh — which the clans brought with them. In summary, though we can’t speak for God, it seems the divine purpose of the migration from Mesopotamia, modern day Iraq, to Canaan was not only to find a rich environment in which the people could prosper, but for the people and the religion to prosper and grow for the redemption of mankind.