Parables of the Bible: Abram's Call
By: Wilona Riva
Disclaimer: I do not own the Bible.
River of the Vision
The man kicked a stone into the river. Traffic was crowded over the bridge as the idol of Ishtar, patron goddess of the city, made her rounds on this festive day. He made no move to join in the procession. That caught the eye of an old man in the crowd.
"You mark my words, young man, you will get yourself killed someday if you don't respect the priests and the gods of our people," Old Terah told the youth.
The youth arched an eyebrow. "I know of only one God," he stated firmly.
"So did my father Nahor," Terah said, examining the stones in the ground. Selecting one flat sided rock, worn smooth by the tide, he skipped it several times over the river's surface before it sank.
"Four," he crowed. "I may be old, but I've still got the touch."
The youth laughed. "I'm glad to see you still have respect for your father's faith as well. I want you to leave this city and go to Haran. Take your family and leave on the morrow."
"I cannot make such a long journey," the old man protested. "I'm old enough to be your great-grandfather."
"I'm far older than I appear," the young man chided him. "Trust me."
"You'd have to be God Himself if you expect me to believe you," Terah shot back at him.
The young man's eyes flashed fire for a second. "Perhaps I am," he answered, before fading into the crowd.
Terah rubbed his eyes and blinked. "I'll be hornswaggled," he muttered. "Better get these lazybones packing up the household. Abram is going to kill me. He hasn't had time to plant the new winter crops."
Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there. (Genesis 12:31)
Moses penned the words just as the LORD commanded him. A thought struck him.
"How many times did You skip that rock?" he asked his Creator.
"Does it matter?" the Lord replied.
Moses shrugged. "Not really," he said. "I was just wondering."
"Once," the Most High said, departing the tent. "I may be grandiose, but I'm not a show-off."
"Just a know-it-all," Moses muttered.
"Part of the job description," was Adonai's parting shot.