Bible Reading:
The Lord had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there. Abram travelled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. The Lord appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him. From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord. (Genesis 12:1-8)
A Reflection
I wonder, what are the most memorable journeys you have been on? Some journeys are full of excitement as we go away on holiday, others with apprehension as we go to visit a loved one in hospital, others maybe hit unexpected problems, like a major hold up on a motorway or a delay in an airport departure lounge.
In most cases, going on a journey involves leaving one place and arriving at another; leaving something behind in order to move to something new. Journeys can also be emotional rather than physical as we pass through the different stages of life, or spiritual as we grow in our relationship with God.
In our reading God called Abram (whose name he later changed to Abraham) to become a pilgrim, to leave his homeland and travel, with his family and possessions, to an, as yet unknown, place. Abram was then 75 years old and childless. He travelled to Canaan which would ultimately become the homeland of the nation that were the descendants of Abram.
Arriving in Canaan, Abram stopped first at Shechem and then east of Bethel, and in each place he built an alter and worshipped the Lord.
The life of Abram speaks to me of a person who was always prepared to move on with God. Having first followed God’s initial call on his life he didn’t become complacent but remained open to discover new things with God.
God may not ask us to move on physically but, like Abram, he calls us to be spiritual pilgrims, to deepen our relationship with him, to grow in our knowledge of him, and to worship him as we travel along with him on our journey through life.
In what ways might God be prompting you to move on with him?
God blessed Abram so that he could become a blessing to others. How might you use the blessings you have received to bless others?
A Prayer
Father God, thank you for the way you have led me and been with me throughout my life. Keep me open to the promptings of your Holy Spirit as I journey with you day by day.
Amen
Where you go, I’ll go