Traveling according to the scripture

 

Sure! Here’s the English translation of the blog, written in the first person as a man, without headings:

From a young age, I was fascinated by the idea of traveling. Not just to see new places, but because deep in my soul, I felt something change inside me every time I left my familiar surroundings. However, it wasn’t until I began studying the scriptures seriously that I understood that this desire to move, to seek, to explore, had a deeper purpose than simple tourism—it had a spiritual, divine, biblical reason.

Today I want to share how traveling, far from being a luxury or just an adventure, is a spiritual necessity supported by the scriptures. I have lived it, felt it, and understood it through the lens of God’s Word.

One of the first examples that struck me was Abraham. In Genesis 12:1 we read: “Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee.” This verse was a revelation for me. God didn’t give Abraham a map or a clear final destination. He just asked him to go. What kind of faith does that take? A great deal. And I realized that many times, when I travel—even if I have a destination in mind—I also need faith. Because I don’t know what I’ll find, who I’ll meet, or what experiences I’ll have.

Abraham’s journey was the beginning of transformation. He traveled not to escape, but to obey. Not for pleasure, but for purpose. Today, when I pack my bag, I often ask myself: does this trip have a divine purpose? Am I going out of obedience or out of ego?

Another powerful story is the exodus. Moses didn’t just lead the people of Israel out of Egypt, they began a journey of spiritual transformation. It wasn’t a short trip. It was forty years in the wilderness. Why so long? Because it wasn’t just about reaching Canaan. It was about changing the people. About teaching them to depend on God. About shedding the slavery within.

In Exodus 13:17-18, we read: “And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near… But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea.” This verse taught me that sometimes the long roads we take in our travels have a spiritual reason. The shortest path isn’t always the one God wants us to take. Sometimes we need to lose our way a little, to find ourselves a lot.

Jesus Himself was a tireless traveler. He had no place to lay His head (Matthew 8:20). He walked from town to town, preaching, healing, teaching. His ministry was mobile. And that made me ask: why didn’t He just stay in one place and build a church there? Because the gospel had to reach everyone. And for that, He had to move.

One of Jesus’s most symbolic journeys was His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21). It was a journey full of meaning. Each step toward Jerusalem was a step toward the cross, toward the redemption of humanity. Since then, I’ve understood that some journeys are necessary to fulfill our personal mission, even if they end in sacrifice.

Perhaps no one in the Bible embodied the need to travel like Paul. He understood that the gospel message had to be taken everywhere, and he spared no effort. His missionary journeys covered thousands of kilometers and many cities: Ephesus, Philippi, Corinth, Thessalonica, Rome… In Acts 13:2-3 we read: “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.” They were sent! Traveling for Paul was not a personal desire. It was a calling. Every time I leave my town, I ask myself: am I being sent? Is there someone out there who needs to hear what I’ve learned from God?

I’ve also learned that in the Bible, travel symbolizes transformation. It’s not just about changing locations, but about changing hearts. Jonah fled by boat to avoid God’s will. But even that escape transformed him. His journey took him into the belly of a fish, into a desperate prayer, into a change of direction.

The prodigal son also took a journey. Luke 15:13 says: “And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.” That journey took him to the bottom, but it was also the beginning of his redemption. His return home was also a journey. Travel, even when we make mistakes, can teach us lessons we wouldn’t learn otherwise.

Something happens to me when I travel: I realize how small I am. Leaving my city, seeing other cultures, living with different people helps me understand that the world is much bigger than my limited perspective. That leads me to humility—something God deeply values. Proverbs 3:5-6 says: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” When I travel, I’m forced to rely more on God. To acknowledge Him in my paths. Literally. On every unfamiliar street, in every new face, in every unexpected moment.

Another reason I learned to travel with purpose was to serve. When I read the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), I realized the man was “on a journey.” It wasn’t a priest in his temple or a Levite in his house who helped the wounded man. It was someone on the road, who changed his route out of love. I, too, have experienced moments where, in the middle of a trip, I’ve met people who needed help. Sometimes, just a conversation. Sometimes a prayer. Sometimes, just listening. I realized that not every trip is about receiving. Some are about giving.

Finally, the Bible speaks of a journey we will all take: from this life to eternity. Hebrews 11:13-16 says: “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off… and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth… they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly one.” How powerful! We are pilgrims. This world is not our final home. We are just passing through. And every journey on this earth, every step outside our comfort zone, prepares us for the most important journey of all.

I remember once taking a trip to South America without really knowing why. Something in my heart told me I had to go. In a square in Lima, I met a man who had lost his wife and was in a crisis of faith. I had also experienced loss, and I was able to share my testimony with him. We cried together. We prayed together. That moment wasn’t a coincidence. It was divine.

Another trip took me to Israel. Walking through the same places where Jesus walked changed me. It wasn’t tourism. It was worship. Every step was a prayer. I came back different.

Traveling, according to the scriptures, is not an escape. It’s a calling. It’s obedience. It’s transformation. It’s service. It’s preparation for eternity. So if you’re feeling in your heart the need to move, to go, to explore—do it. But do it with God. Ask Him for direction. Travel with purpose. Travel with faith.

And remember: every journey you take can be one more chapter in the story God is writing with you.