LEAVING ONE’S HOMELAND AND BEING A SOURCE OF BLESSING

“The Lord said to Abraham: Leave everything and go… you will be a source of blessing” (Gen 12:1-4).

Have we ever been a source of blessing for others? Has anyone ever thanked us deeply because we didn’t abandon them and offered them support? Have we ever received so many good things that we felt truly blessed? It’s wonderful if we’ve experienced the feeling of being blessed.

“You must be a source of blessing,” God demands of Abraham, tying this command to the promise of His blessing—for Abraham himself and for all the people of the earth.

God commands Abraham to break away from his way of life. He must leave behind everything holding him back. This signifies a complete separation. He must free himself from his roots, leave his homeland, separate from his friends, and venture into something entirely foreign and new. The goal is not clearly defined. All he knows is that God will be with him.

Abraham leaves his homeland, but he does not leave alone. In the ancient Near East, no one is ever truly alone. Nobody lives in complete isolation; everyone is part of a family.

Yet, Abraham leaves behind everything that provided him security and protection, trust and prospects, and embarks on an uncertain future. Everything that lies ahead is unclear; he might hope for a better life for himself, Sarah, and his household, but great challenges could arise that they might not be able to overcome.

If Abraham and his family leave, they will become strangers.

What motivated Abraham to leave, aside from God’s promise?

Departures are not always voluntary, especially not when one has reached a certain age. Leaving is often associated with youth. Young people leave their parents’ home, pursue education, and go elsewhere for studies. Yet, life is full of departures, whether chosen or imposed.

Sometimes, it’s good to leave everything behind and start a new path free of obstacles, unburdened by the past. Other times, people are forced to leave—they are expelled from their social environment, uprooted.

Was Abraham and Sarah’s departure an unwanted one? In hindsight, they likely interpreted it as a promise from God because they knew the outcome: the blessing promised by God came to fruition, and they found a new way of life, a new homeland, and new friends.

Looking back, their story takes on a new light, revealing what was previously hidden. Retrospectively, it gives meaning to their lives.

But at the moment of departure, the path ahead is unknown, and what will happen often lies entirely in darkness.

It is important to note that the promise of blessing at the time of departure was tied to the command: “You must be a source of blessing.” The blessing Abraham received from God was not for him alone; he had to share it. Others, too, were meant to partake in this blessing.

This command can be disregarded if the blessing is kept to oneself. God wants all people to be blessed. Those who have received God’s blessing must pass it on to others.

Let us be a source of blessing for those who are forced to leave and need help and support because they are strangers or in need of information.

Let us be a source of blessing for those seeking a new homeland and who need to make new friends.

God did not bless only Abraham and Sarah; He has blessed all of us. Throughout our lives, we will be compelled to take the risk of leaving, and this will not end, even in old age.

Our commitment to and work with the ACISJF shows that we continuously want to find the strength to depart and be a source of blessing for others.