Genesis 12:1-9

The saga of our move from Medway to Chelmsford goes on: we still don't know our moving date, due to the work that needs to be done on the manse before we move in.

But whatever the hassles, we're committed to the move. I knew this was part of the deal when I offered for the ministry, and Debbie knew it would be when she married me. We now have other factors to bear in mind when we make further moves, such as timing our moves as best we can so as not to damage the children's education. But move on we shall; it is part of the lifestyle.

We are not foolish enough to think we are unique in this respect: moving on has been an integral part of many careers for a long time. To join the armed services is to expect this, as some of you well know. People in management are expected to move from one branch or office to another. Or a company engages in a major relocation and staff either have to move miles away or take redundancy. Some of you know all too well about that. Locally, Friday's Medway Messenger reported Tesco's decision to shut down its depot in Strood with the loss of four hundred jobs, although workers will be offered the chance to move to Thurrock, or possibly at local stores.

I mention all this, because we have a story here from Genesis about Abram moving. At the age of seventy-five he leaves behind family - including his father! - to embark on the journey of faith in response to God's call. Abram's journey is not just a physical, geographical one: it is a spiritual one.

And throughout the great story of our faith, the call to go on a journey of faith recurs. Sometimes people are taken on a journey unwillingly, as God's people are sent into exile from Judah into Babylon; sometimes it is a journey of joy, as when they return to their homeland. Jesus himself goes on a journey as a young child to Egypt as his parents flee the wrath of Herod.

Supremely, Jesus says to his disciples, "Follow me". Physically they follow him to the places he visits, but that too is of course a spiritual journey. Disciples of Jesus hear the call to follow him, and that puts us all on a spiritual journey. None of us is exempt from the call. What does it involve?

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Copyright © David D Faulkner, 2006 except where other sources are attributed or noted as inspiration.