But just before Tobit died, he sent for his son Tobias and told him, 4 

My son, take your children and go at once to Media. I believe that God's judgment which his prophet Nahum announced against Nineveh is about to take place. Everything that God's prophets told Israel about Nineveh and Assyria will happen. It will all come true, every word of it, when the right time comes. I am absolutely convinced that everything God has said is sure to come true. God does not break his promises. It will be safer for you in Media than in Assyria or Babylon.

Those Jews who live in Israel will all be scattered and taken from that good land into exile. All Israel will become a wasteland; Samaria and Jerusalem will be abandoned cities. God's Temple will be burned to the ground and will lie in complete ruin for a while. 5 But God will have mercy on his people again, and he will bring them back to the land of Israel. They will rebuild the Temple, but it will not be as splendid as the first Temple, not until the proper time has come. But when that time does come, all the people of Israel will return from exile, and they will rebuild the city of Jerusalem in all its former splendor. They will rebuild God's Temple in Jerusalem, just as Israel's prophets have foretold.

6 Then all the nations in the world will come back to God. They will worship him as the only true God and give up the idols that led them into false worship. 7 The nations of the world will praise the everlasting God by doing what he demands.

At that time God will save all the people of Israel who have been faithful to him. He will bring them together to Jerusalem, and let them take possession of the land of Abraham, and there they will live securely forever. All who love God with their heart and soul will rejoice, but all sinners and evil people will be wiped off the face of the earth.

8 Now, my children, follow my instructions. Worship God sincerely and do what is pleasing to him. 9 Bring up your children to do what is right. Teach them that they must give to the poor and must always remember to praise God with all sincerity. (Tobit 14:2-9)

 

Leaving In Obedience

 

Leaving the comfort zone is not an easy job, but leaving has to be done, when it is declared for the special purpose, for our own advantage, that we may not fully understand or comprehend, until the event that is prophesied unfolds into reality. Some are asked to leave directly, as in the case of Tobias told his son Tobit, in view of the destruction that is ahead, an advise, command to protect his dearest son. Abraham was asked to leave when he got encountered with God at the age of 75: The Lord said to Abram, “Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's home, and go to a land that I am going to show you. 2 I will give you many descendants, and they will become a great nation. I will bless you and make your name famous, so that you will be a blessing. (Gen 12:1-2) Definitely would have made him feel quite uneasy and overwrought, but he obeyed and got blessed and saved.

 

The angel told Joseph to leave: 13 After the scholars were gone, God’s angel showed up again in Joseph’s dream and commanded, “Get up. Take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt. Stay until further notice. Herod is on the hunt for this child, and wants to kill him.”

14-15 Joseph obeyed. He got up, took the child and his mother under cover of darkness. They were out of town and well on their way by daylight. (Mt 2:13-14) In the similar way many had to move, either by a direct command or by circumstantial way of God moving through events as in the case of Moses leaving Egypt, and being in the wilderness getting prepared for the mission of Liberation and Exodus. Peter left his boat and net, Paul left his fanatic company that persecuted christians, by guidance from Christ. Most of the prophets have to leave their secured profession, in view of the vocation from above. May we praise God for giving us command and navigation, to settle where we are currently stationed, the complete reason He only knows and  hence lets praise Him that we left, where we left, how we left, what and who we left behind, and march ahead left..right..left..right..as His army.

 

Abba, Thank You for asking us to leave as Your love abounds, Let Your Spirit enable us to hold fast in all days of our lives, In Jesus’ Most wonderful Name, Amen.