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Growing GOD's Way Is the Best Way!

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Moving

by Jacob Cowden

Our family recently made another move. This was probably the biggest move our family has made. Our family, over the years I have been alive, has lived in 13 houses, in seven towns, in six states, and now one U.S. protectorate. Consequently, we know a lot about moving. Moving is hard; when you move you leave houses, family, and friends behind you. Then again, there are good sides of moving. For instance, when you move you meet new people, make new friends, and see new sights. As I said, the move my family and I have recently made is the biggest and most important; we have become missionaries on the island of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands.

Moving is important in our lives; similarly, moving is essential in the Bible. Abraham moved from Ur to Canaan; the Israelites moved out of Egypt to Canaan; young Jesus’ earthly father moved (to escape Herod) down to Egypt. As you see, without these, and many other moves, the Bible (and history) would have been different. Let’s examine three of these examples.

The first example is from Genesis 12:1, “Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Get out of your country from your father’s house to a land I will show you.’” God then goes on to tell Abram the blessings He will give if Abram obeys. Wait a minute! Wouldn’t it have been easy for Abram to say, “Just a second, God, what about my family and all that I have here? Why do You want me to move?” But he didn’t say that; in fact, he did not argue at all! Genesis 12:4 says, “So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot with him. And Abram was 75 years old when he departed from Haran.” What faith Abram had! Abram put God before everything in his life. We should learn from Abram for he was truly a man of God.

The second example is from Exodus three and four where Moses argues with God. “I am not a good speaker,” and other excuses he made, but God answered them all. Moses finally consented and later led Israel out of Egypt and to the edge of the promised land. In this case, moving was used by God to complete His purpose. Without the Israelites moving to the promised land, at this time, the Bible would be pretty different.

Finally, in Matthew 2:13, the angel of the Lord said to Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” Stop; think about this for a second. The angel of the Lord is telling Joseph to leave his home country - with a young child - to a place he has never been - for an indefinite period of time. But, Joseph did not question or waver; he just did what he was told to do. As a result, young Jesus was not killed like the other young boys that were two years old and younger in Bethlehem and its districts. This story demonstrates how moving is sometimes necessary in the Bible.

Moreover, when some thing comes up to test our faith, like moving, we should remember what Paul wrote in Romans 18:8, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” So remember, whatever you give up, is lost, or dies for the sake of obeying God’s Word will be rewarded bountifully if you obey God’s Word the best you can.

This is the second article we have had from this young man. To remind you, he is 13 years old (turns 14 in December), and helps his parents in their work on the island of Saipan. Jacob is a good student at home schooling and of the scriptures. Thank you Jacob for sharing a special part of yourself with us!

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