(21-71-72)(29-26-27)(37-99)(2-260)
The Immigration of Abraham
After this wave of hatred, Abraham and his followers were
alone to face the consequences of their actions. All the rich people, who did
not know what to do with their free time and themselves, found an opportunity
to exploit the situation. They were looking for an opening to make their careers
and acquire a high place with the king and religious authorities. So they
jumped to seize the opportunity and started hatching plans to destroy Abraham
and his new movement. The enemies were
busy scheming and planning to do damage to Abraham, when God told him to leave
the country and immigrate to another place with his nephew Lot, who was also a
prophet.
Immigration is not an escape from difficulties in one’s country; it is a
journey to another land to propagate ideas. If the people of one land do not
follow the dictates of justice, reason, and truth, and attach no value to them,
it is best to leave that place. The men of Abraham’s country were unable to
appreciate the enthusiasm which filled his very being to establish the
sovereignty of one God. While they were busy in conspiring against him, he left
the country, breaking all the bounds of land, language, and love for his father
and other relations.
(2-260)
The Revival of Dead
Nations
Travelling
in those days was not easy. There were no roads as we have in modern times.
Travelers had to pass through thick forests and face many hazards. As Abraham
was passing through many new lands, he observed that many nations were living
on an animal level. These nations did not have any standard for evaluating
their actions. They were so callous and brutal in their behavior that Abraham
asked God,
“Show me how you will give life to these dead
people.” Here the word “dead” does not mean physically dead; it has a wider
meaning. It refers to a life which consists of only eating, drinking, sleeping,
and reproducing. What Abraham was preaching was a life on the human level with
values.
“Do you not believe that this message
can revive the dead people?” said God.
“I do believe in it, but I want to
know the method by which this change could be brought about; it will give me satisfaction,”
said Abraham.
God
ordered Abraham to fetch four birds and develop a bond of trust with them. After
a while, when they were fully attached, he was to put them on different
mountains. As he called them, they came fluttering towards him. This was the
method. In other words affection is the key to change. If anyone wants to bring
about change in people’s behavior, it can only be done by affection. One simply
cannot go to individuals and say, “You are inferior to me so you must change
and adopt my way of life.” This type of arrogant approach only breeds hatred.
The reformer has to show respect for the person he wants to change. This is
like taming the birds. The reformer puts a lot of constraints on his behavior. He
gives his precious time to the birds, feeds them, takes them out and cares for
them in every season of the year. But once it is done, the confidence of the
birds is gained; they will come to him even if he sets them free. The calling
and chirping of free birds will not stop them, when the trust is gained, from
coming back to him. To effect change in human beings is a long and tedious
process, like the taming of birds, which requires constant effort and perseverance.
