Abram Went

Perhaps the event that changed the course of history and how we understand ourselves can be summed up with these simple words, "Abram went."

Abram was a Sumerian (read Chaldean) businessman who was quite settled and prosperous. Sumeria is the land of the Fertile Crescent and home, at that time, to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon (obviously in Babylon).

God summoned Abram to leave it all and go where The Lord would direct him.

These are the words from Genesis:

The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you."--Genesis 12:1 (NIV)

There was a substantial promise attached to this directive, but notice the sparsity of language used by The Lord in His address to Abram.

"Leave."

"Go."

"I will show you."

No detailed directions. No itinerary.

Here is the promise:
"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.
[3] I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you."
--Genesis 12:2-3 (NIV)


But still, not a lot to go on.

Speaking of Lot; he was Abram's brother. We probably know more about Lot's wife and her "salty" reputation that we do of Lot. (It's in Genesis, too.)

Abram's response to The Voice: "Abram went ..."--Genesis 12:4

Up until Abram such a thing had not happened.

He went.

The Voice said, "Go," and Abram went.

Later, Abram is described as a "friend" of God and as a "righteous" man.

He gets my vote on both, because his "going" changed the course of human history.

First, he was the first to respond to The Voice.

Second, just the fact that he went, with nothing more to go on than The Voice.

Others responded to the voice in the centuries that followed:

Moses.

Elijah.

The prophets.

And then, after God had not spoken for a long time:

Mary.

And some simple fishermen, two pairs of brothers named Simon and Andrews, along with James and John.

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. --Mark 1:16-20 (NIV)

Leaving everything to go where The Voice leads.

Leaving everything to follow Jesus the Word.

"Abram went."

That may be a good epithet for a tombstone, mine even: "Jim went."

Oh, that it may be truer and truer.