PILGRIM PATHS

"And Abraham lived as a foreigner in the land of the Philistines for many days." (Genesis 21:34 HCSB)

"But it's not Thanksgiving!" you might be thinking. When we hear the word "pilgrim" you may tend to think of people who wore stove top hats with belt buckles on them, who took their blunderbuss and shot a turkey, then invited the Indians to join them for a Thanksgiving feast. Those were pilgrims, but not for those reasons. These had come to the New World fleeing religious persecution, traveling so many weary miles with a longing to worship God according to the dictates of their conscience. They had the sense they were being directed by God and moved out in faith and obedience. That's what pilgrims do. That's what Abraham did.

"By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went out to a place he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, co-heirs of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God." (Hebrews 11:8-10 HCSB)

The lives of the patriarchs--Abraham, Isaac and Jacob--are marked by their movement from place to place--strangers in a strange land, tumbleweeds blown by the winds of God's will. Always on the ready to pull up the tent pegs, pack up and head out--ever with the longing for their real home in heaven--these are pilgrim paths.

Those paths take Abraham and his family into several places and differing challenges in Genesis 20-23. The pilgrim paths lead them into peril, promise, provision and pain, each with its unique crossroad between crisis and opportunity--an occasion for the pilgrim's progress or regress.

Genesis 20 is about LIES. We've heard this song before. "It's deja vu, all over again," as Yogi Berra said. "From there Abraham traveled to the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he lived in Gerar, Abraham said about his wife Sarah, 'She is my sister.' So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him." (Genesis 20:1, 2 HCSB)

It was the same devilish dead-end Abraham had taken before (see 12:10-19) and he winds up in the same ditch! Thankfully, God pulled him out again. We may react in shock. The liberal and skeptic scornfully says this is just another version of the same story. The reality is that we are slow to learn. Our head can be so hard and our heart so unbelieving. Sin is a stubborn thing. Once certain patterns develop in us, it is easy to slip into that rut again. Like an old logging road, where heavy trucks travel repeatedly, the driver doesn't have to try to get the wheels in the ruts. It's easy. As pilgrims we will face repeated detours and dead-ends. We had best heed the warning of the children's song, "Be careful little feet, where you go!"

Genesis 21 is about LAUGHS. "Abraham was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Sarah said, 'God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears will laugh with me.' She also said, 'Who would have told Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne a son for him in his old age.' " (Genesis 21:5-7 HCSB)

What did they name the boy? Laughter! That is what the name Isaac means. When God promised Abraham that he would have a son in his old age, Sarah was eavesdropping, and laughed scornfully at the possibility (18:10-15). Now, a year later, the old couple is giggling with delight as they look into the face of "Laughter." God gets the last laugh! There is more laughter in the chapter--not of those being merry, but one bringing mockery. Ishmael scorns his younger half-brother. There is strife in the home. Hagar is driven out. The conflict continues to this day between the descendants of Isaac and Ishmael--the Jews and Arabs. That struggle hasn't brought any smiles, but a lot of sorrows across the years--many tears! But, again, God will get the last laugh. Peace will come to the Middle East (and the world) when the Prince of Peace, Jesus of Abraham's seed returns and reconciles His brethren to God and to each other in the Millennium. The church has a role in this today as we share the Gospel with Jews and Arabs and the laughter resounds, "there will be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents" (Luke 15:7a).

Genesis 22 is about LOVES. "After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, 'Abraham!' 'Here I am,' he answered. 'Take your son,' He said, 'your only [son] Isaac, whom you love, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.' " (Genesis 22:1, 2 HCSB)

How Abraham loved Isaac! The test: did he love God more? God demands that there be no higher love. Jesus said that to love God with all our being was the Great Commandment. We must love Him so exclusively and extravagantly that even love for family would seem as hate in comparison (Luke 14:26). God isn't really asking us to love family less, just to love Him most. The greatest gift we can give our children is a life sold out to God. This opens up the avenue of God's provision. Abraham passed the test and God revealed Himself as Jehovah Jireh--the LORD our Provider (22:14). It is an incredible picture of substitutionary atonement--of God providing a sacrifice in Isaac's place--a preview of the Father's love for us in giving His only Son to save us--all on another mountain--not Moriah, but Golgotha! Give Him your love--your life! "Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship." (Romans 12:1 HCSB)

Genesis 23 is about LOSSES. "Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her." (Genesis 23:2 HCSB)

It was the loss of a darling wife for Abraham and of a dear mother for Isaac. The pilgrim path sooner or later takes us into the cemetery. Being people of faith doesn't shield us from the sorrows of our frail mortality. God will wipe away the tears, but that is because there are tears needing to be dried. We are grateful for the grace that sustains us in the graveyard and for the glory that awaits in the heavens--but we are not home yet. We are pilgrims, looking for a city--the New Jerusalem whose Builder is God. We look for a city, but often through eyes dimmed by tears. Press on pilgrim! God walks with you!

"While we walk the pilgrim pathway,
Clouds will overspread the sky;
But, when trav'ling days are over,
Not a shadow, not a sigh.
When we all get to heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We'll sing and shout the victory!" (Eliza Hewitt)