Abraham, a pilgrim #4

Let us Hear Ye Him!

Chapter Two, Section 2

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Abram stands, bows his head and starts off leaving his father starring away in the open fields, in deep reflections. Then he thinks loudly, speaking to himself.

Terah: My son has always been strange. His actions have always been strange too, yet all has been within our reach. Now, this goes beyond our reach. Certainly, we need God more than ever, to guide our feet. Well… but that light on the hill…! It was strange too. So, what do we do? I will have to pray about it… Talking is cheap, it goes for nothing, but acting is the hill Difficult. It takes faith; only faith conquers her.

Abram goes towards the grazing fields and finally meets Lot and his brother Iscah; they had gone to check on their servants.

Abram: Shalom my brethren!

Lot & Iscah: Shalom uncle! How is the day? Iscah salutes Abram.

Abram: As usual, getting worse and worse here in Ur. Have you heard of the recent law that the king has decreed?

Iscah: No, I don’t think.

Lot: Neither have I.

Abram: You better be ready to leave this place. It’s going to be hard for true worshippers to survive in Ur. The king and his princes have passed a law that all religions in Ur should form a union, and the thorny issue is that every man must subscribe to one of the religions and must contribute money to the priests of his religion for their sustenance. Furthermore, it is now a must that every inhabitant of Ur must sacrifice to her gods and goddesses.

Iscah: You can do all that without being a party to their idolatry. Simply keep your heart out of the thing!

Abram: Iscah! Be serious, son. What you do reflects directly on your heart and if it is an abominable, your heart is defiled by it. God demands total separation from idols, if you have to please Him. That is the tree of knowledge of good and evil. It is the source of death and every wicked thing benighting us in our pilgrimage. You can’t touch it and escape corruption. Remember Eve, your first mother, it was by her partaking on the serpent’s idolatrous feast that brought all trouble. You want to go the same way?

Iscah: No, uncle, but I can keep myself from all their feasts. I will not attend any. If they want a name on their register, well they can have it, but I will never attend their ceremonies.

Lot: To have a name on the register means you support their ceremonies, that stains your heart.

Iscah: All the world has dived into that. In Bab-llu, it is exactly like that, same thing in Ashur… You know it keeps spreading like a disease. To escape it all is to go out of this world, I am sure.

Abram: What if God commands you to start out?

Iscah: Then I would consider it, for He will tell us where to go, and will provide it too, a haven full of blessings.

Abram: Well, my sons, God has spoken. He has commanded me to come out of Ur. For if I remain here, then I would be a martyr, for I won’t have my name on any list of religion. I can’t be a partaker of idolatry. I am ready to die than to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Remember Eve…!

Lot: Uncle, you mean God has spoken to you?

Abram: Of course. You remember something about last Monday night?

Iscah: That light on the Difficult?

Abram: Yes. I was praying at that time, on the hill.

Lot: (Excited) You were in that light! Strange…!

Iscah: (Astonished) And you heard His voice… Did you see Him?

Abram: (Starting to walk away) I have said that the Lord has spoken, He has said that I must leave Ur soonest.

Iscah: To where?

Abram: I know not.

Lot: (Reflecting) That is strange…

Iscah: (Shocked) Unbelievable!

Abram: (Softly) Why?

Iscah: (Almost shouting) How do you start out without knowing whither you list?

Abram: Walking by faith means walking with God. It is not for everyone, of course, don’t mistake it, it is for an individual. Decide it. You can’t serve God but as an individual. Whoever wants to stay, let him do so, but whoever believes God, let him start out. I am decided. No turning back.

Abraham goes his way to his brother’s house, Nahor, a half a mile or so away, as Lot and Iscah talks a while then parts. Abram finally arrives at Nahor’s house.

Nahor: (Waking up) Shalom! Welcome! Blessed day today?

Abram: (Stretching out his hand towards Nahor) Shalom! Peace be to you. Sure, it’s a blessed day.

Nahor: Home?

Abram: The Lord is with us. Your sister is doing well. In God we have our health and being each day. So worth is He, more than our words can tell. A refuge worth our all.

Nahor: Wonderful! That is it. God is good to us, so good! He makes the morning shine better each day – like today.

Abram: So much so indeed, but people never appreciate Him… They seek not after Him. They have gone headlong into this hateful thing, the wanton of idolatry. Quite obnoxious!

Nahor: It is all so evil in the eyes of God, that Ziggurat extravaganza. It may attract divine punishment to us, someday, if we keep from escaping.

Abram: Obvious! We better look out; it must be closing in now.

Nahor: By the way…did you see that light on the hill last week? People have whispered so much about it, how strange it was.

Abram: What light?

Nahor: (Surprised) What? A stranger in Ur? It has been noised all over!

Abram: What was it? Did you see it?

Nahor: No, please! It can’t be! Where have you been this week? Out of the city?

Abram: I’ve been in prayer all the time. You remember our last get-together and our conclusion? I’ve been answering to that call most of my time.

Nahor: Last Monday, evening to midnight, where were you?

Abram: Up in the hill, praying.

Nahor: Which hill?

Abram: Difficult.

Nahor: You mean? Where, exactly, were you praying from?

Abram: In between the two great stones, on top of the hill.

Nahor: You were that brave? That is exactly where it was, the heavenly shining light! It was a light in form of a funnel. You mean you didn’t see it?

Abram: That is what has brought me here.

Nahor: (Looking surprised) What is that?

Abram: About that light.

Nahor: You saw it! What was it? Was it an angel?

Abram: No, I don’t think. God is light, but this city falsely calls herself “Light,” yet it is the most darkened city in Mesopotamia.

Nahor: Is it? Did you see Him? Is that what He said? Remember the case of Babel… Lest we be overtaken in the overthrow…we should start out, quick. Have you told the old man?

Abram: He knows all about it.

Nahor: Now, what did God say, exactly?

Abram: Will you hear it? Will you obey it?

Nahor: Why not! The just is the same who walks in obedience to God’s commandments. I have always stood for that. And you know it. Tell me… What said He?

Abram: I must leave this place right away.

Nahor: Where to? Did he tell you where we must escape to?

Abram: No!

Nahor: (Almost shouting) “No”? What do you mean?

Abram: (Firmly) Of course!

Nahor: (Recoils backwards) Then how in the world will you tell where to start to? Strange…!

Abram: Do I have to tell?

Nahor: (He smiles) Then how will you start off? North, east, west or south…?

Abram: Well… He knows it. And that is good enough for me.

Nahor: I suggest you go back and ask Him. God is not the author of confusion. Let him tell you, to the point. I will also be praying.

Abram: Me? I cannot ask again. One answer is enough.

Nahor: What did he tell you? Don’t beat around the bush. Be plain. It is serious. You cannot start off in the world to nowhere.

Abram: Well, my brother, get me clear! I have already told you. He told me he knows it. I am to walk by faith. I will get ready, then start. He will do the rest. And I am about starting off, you know. So, be careful…

Nahor: (Moving his head forward, with a questioning expression on the face) “Be careful?!” Who? And what have I done? I am ready to go where God will point us to.

Abram: Well, pray and get the answer… for me it is settled.

Nahor: (Changing his thoughts and relaxing) Don’t be in a hurry, brother. The barley is doing well, soon it will be ready for harvest. We need it along the way.

Abram: Not for me. God knows it better. Faith is enough. He never included it, that barley. He said that I should leave all and go. Pray about it and find out for yourself. On my side, it is in a month’s time, I will be gone. Three months to barley harvest is too long.

Nahor: (Standing up) Please, my brother!

Abram: I mean it! Not for you, of course.

Nahor: Don’t look at things narrowly. God speaks, yes, but expects you to use common sense too.

Abram: Repeat it! Common sense? What is that? Eve tried it once, and you see where her common sense landed us? It will miss it! It is faith, my brother, faith in God’s word brings victory home. God leads and provides… That is what faith holds on. For me it works, it has always been working, and it will work.

Nahor: Let me think about it.

Abram: Think? Not so much about you, dear brother, it is all about me. Let it not bother you so much. An individual walk with God, makes a better end. Anything else miscarries.

Nahor: Don’t make yourself special. I will see my father, and we will decide. Two people over a matter makes the outcome brighter. One fingernail cannot kill a lie. That proverb never miscarries.

Abram: Alright, you can see him and search it out, but faith acts only through one heart, it is never found in an association. A belief can associate men, but faith acts singularly in a single heart.

Nahor: “The counsel of many elders wins the day, but a lone advice carries defeat,” says the ancients. So, your stand is not of a wise man, but of one who presumes. Emotions never wins the battle, but a well organised army does it. Relax and allow us to discuss it in detail as we pray, I am sure God will direct us. “Whoever goes into battle hastily carries shame, but a brave plan carries the day,” says the ancients, and they have never lied!

Abram: Presume? Not faith! “Cursed is the man that trusts in men,” says the ancients too, and that has been proved numberless times. Noah walked by faith, rejecting the counsels of many societies of the elders of his day, and he won the battle too.

Nahor: With whom are you about to compare yourself? Noah? That was a man who spoke face to face with God, just like Enoch; men who walked with God. How much less are we in comparison!

Abram: A lot of water spoils the soup, so are many words to the right counsel. God is one and his counsel stands against the entire world of men. In this, my heart is settled. He has spoken, I must take the most earnest heed.

Nahor: Who ever launched upon the great sea without a compass? It is wise to know whence and whither to, before you bestir. A hasty move carries a host of errors; a slow and careful start carries assurance. Thus, advise yourself.

Abram: He who trusts himself shall perish; but he who trusts in the Lord shall be saved. Your advice is good as far as the matters of men stands, but this is God speaking. You are not about to start counselling the most high, are you?

Nahor: We will talk over it after I have heard from the mouth of the old man. We are of yesterday, so is our knowledge; he had the fellowship of the company of the ancients, their words stand like mountains. For the proverb says, “My son, inquire at the mouth of the ancients and take heed.”

Abram: So, do, but for me, my God is the most ancient; He is from everlasting, but all men are of yesterday, so is their wisdom, a product of the hateful tree of idolatry!

Abram rose and started, leaving Nahor in deep thoughts. He seemed completely floored. He was not sure whether to believe it or not. “Might it be that the light was natural? Some star had descended a little too close to the earth…” He thought. “Them, falling stars could do that… only it stayed too long. Well, I will see what the old man says.” The following morning, he woke up early and started for his father’s house.

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