In three religious traditions, the story of the nomads Abraham and Sarah plays a foundational role. For people who chose to live settled lives, it is a good story to hear. For those who become refugees, the story provides reassurance.

Raising animals in the fertile lands between the Tigris and Euphrates meant moving the herd according to the rains. Abraham and Sarah understood the pattern, where to find good grass in each season, where to find enough water for the herds.

But God called them to leave the land they knew, to take their herds, their servants, their relatives and travel to a new place. "I will make you a people in the land I will show you."

Travelling in lands you don't know with your herds is not an easy task. You can talk to the caravan leaders to figure out the best place to cross the rivers. Those experienced travellers can provide clues to water locations, but the water that will nurture a caravan may not sustain the herds. You can carry some feed, but along the way you have to seek enough grass to sustain the animals. Leaving home with your whole household and farm is a major risk.

But Abraham and Sarah believed they were called. They took the risk. They left the home of their ancestors and travelled across the empty places to the land between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. At Bethel, they built a cairn and offered prayers of gratitude for a safe journey to the promised land. They had arrived.

And what do you do when you arrive? For us, we find a house to settle in. For people who raised animals in that day, they moved on down the land looking for pasture and water. They began to learn the patterns of this new land. There were towns in the land where they could replenish supplies for the people, but towns do not provide what herds of animals need so they could not settle there. They kept moving.

With Abraham and Sarah travelled their nephew Lot and his household and animals. It seems possible that they hoped he would be the one to inherit the promise. But as they began their time in the land, they had a different sense of what would sustain the household and herds. They went separate ways.

Then, drought hit the land. Wells and pastures failed. In order to sustain their herds, they travelled to Egypt. When rains returned to land between the sea and the Jordan river, they moved back to the promised land.

In a time of questioning, Abraham pointed out to God that the one who would inherit the promise was his steward, a servant of the family. Of course God knew this, and Abraham knew God knew this, but Abraham wanted to check if that was the way God wanted the promise to work out. "You will have a son" was God's answer.

Sarah, childless and by then too old to have children, pondered the possibilities. There was a tradition in their culture of choosing a female servant to bear a child as a surrogate. Sarah suggested that the way to live out the promise was for her servant Hagar to bear Abraham's son.

As we listen to the story, this may feel unfaithful. But the content of the promise has unfolded in steps and so far, Sarah has not been included. So together, they set in place the best plan they can come up with to live the promise. And Hagar has a son.

After this, God promises a son to Sarah, and Isaac is born. The situation is not comfortable, and the two boys are separated, becoming the ancestors of separate peoples who do not live comfortably side by side in our day.

But no where in the story did God promise comfort. Blessings yes, but God called a nomadic people to leave their known lands and travel through strange places to a new land. At several times in the story of both boys, they will become refugees.

Travelling can be fun, but being torn from home is not. Moving is challenging. Becoming a refugee is painful and fearful. This ancient story reminds us that God is with the nomad and the refugee wherever they may have to travel.

Cathy Hird is a farmer, minister, and writer living near Walters Falls.