The Travellers

Now the Lord said to Abram
“Go from your country and your kindred
and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.”
A journey; a far journey
to see lands he had never seen,
to meet people he had never known.
Imagine Abram packing his donkey, saying farewell to his family,
leaving behind everything that was dear to him and going forward,
forward into God`s invitation, “to the land that I will show you.”
Abram, the journey-man was the first of a long-line of travellers.
Hagar and Esau unwillingly sent into the wilderness,
Isaac trekking to find a wife.
Jacob running from a pack of lies,
Joseph going to Egypt because of his brothers’ sins.
Moses fleeing from Egypt and then back again at God’s call.
The people of Israel journeying through the wilderness to Canaan,
Ruth and Naomi walking from a far country with tears.
Then there were the prophets, ranging up and down the land.
Samuel sent from home to live in the temple,
Elijah running for his life.
Jonah fleeing from the Lord on a ship, but ending up in Nineveh.
The people of Israel themselves, travelling into exile in Babylon,
singing songs in strange lands, the land that God would show them. 

Mary and Joseph begin the journey even before their son was born,
travelling to Bethlehem and an unknown future.
Exile to Egypt and then back to Nazareth.
Jesus walking to worship in Jerusalem, travelling with his family.
He does the same journey later with his disciples,
travelling up the mountains and down,
from the sea all the way up to a hill outside Jerusalem.
Those same disciples travel to the ends of the earth,
with Paul and many others, spreading the gospel as they go.
Go from your country and your kindred
and your father`s house to the land that I will show you.
This Bible is journey-ridden, because God is calling.
We stand on holy ground as we read,
together with our brothers and sisters,
looking for our place on the map,
wondering where on earth we’ll go.
It’s our call.