Moving

Moving

The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.” . . . So Abram departed as the LORD had instructed. . . . Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.

Genesis 12:1, 4

Moving is something I know intimately, having moved almost thirty times in my life. I can remember my minister dad coming home one day and asking my mom if she could be ready to move in three days. She never flinched but said, “Well, I guess so, if that’s what we need to do.”

Moving always makes me think of Sarah, the time when Abraham came home and said, “Honey, guess what? We’re moving.”

Now, to a desert nomad, moving was really nothing new, but this time was different.

“Really?” says she. “Why?”

“Well, I don’t really know.”

“When?”

“In three days.”

“Three days! Where are we going?”

“I don’t know that, either.”

“When will the moving vans arrive?”

“Uh, that’s a bit ahead of our time, sweetheart. You’ll have to load everything on the camels.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“Uh, no.”

“And just exactly what made you decide to do this crazy thing, Abraham?”

“God told me to.”

“Oh.” Pause . . . two . . . three. “Okay, please back that camel up to the front door!”

When God tells us to “move,” we need to get packing!

Father, help me to always be ready to move when you urge me to do it. I know you’re either moving me away from something I need to leave, or you’re moving me toward a place I need to be. Help me to follow your lead and to go willingly. Thank you, Lord. Amen.