Abraham the Great Prophet 5

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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.

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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.