Scripture
The Lord appeared again to Abraham near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. One day Abraham was sitting at the entrance to his tent during the hottest part of the day. He looked up and noticed three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran to meet them and welcomed them, bowing low to the ground. Genesis 18:1-2

Observation
Abraham ran to meet God. That doesn’t seem all that significant unless a few facts are brought to light.

First, Abraham was 100 years old at the time. I had a friend who died at 102 years of age. When I first met Norm de Vaus at the age of 96 he ran across the road in front of my car with eggs he had collected from the chickens.  The sight of a scrawny 100 year old jogger is not one quickly dismissed from the memory. Think of it: arthritic Abraham is sprinting down the driveway without a walker.

Second, Abraham was the boss of what we would call today a decent sized company. He had 318 male servants who were able to fight. Those men of course each had wives and with them children. Abraham’s entourage was well over a thousand or more people. They made quite a foot print in the desert with all of their tents. Abraham was Chairman of the Board with the confidence and aura of a great leader. It was customary at that time for servants to scamper about to serve the master. The head of a great estate did not run, others ran for him. But Abraham ran and everyone else sprang to action as a result.

Abraham was ancient and secure, nevertheless, Abraham sprinted to meet God.  This example challenges our familiarity with the Almighty. We so take the Lord for granted. Just as Michelangelo painted on the Sistine Chapel ceiling, God reaches a decisive arm out to us while Adam lifts a groggy finger toward the Lord. If Abraham ran then we should be running to God as well.

Abraham ran because he was living in expectation. Just the chapter before he had taken the last in a series of increasing commitments to the Lord. He had all of the 318 servants, plus himself and his son Ishmael circumcised. Abraham had taken a significant step and so he expected God to do something soon. Abe had his sneakers on.

Application
The determined steps of our obedience bring God to us and when we obey we should put our running shoes on. God is coming and we must run to him soon. I’m expecting the Lord to show up just about anytime now and when he comes may he find me ready to sprint.

Prayer
Father, I’m ready. Amen.