Upon the Highways and Through the Gates They Traveled

In the ancient days, when kingdoms rose and fell by sword and scroll, the people of the earth moved upon roads trodden by prophets, kings, and traders. The means by which they traveled were shaped not by haste, but by patience and the rhythm of the earth beneath their feet.

Beasts of Burden and the Path of the Pilgrim

Long before the chariot’s wheel turned in glory, the humble donkey bore the burdens of man. It was upon a donkey that Abraham saddled his journey to Moriah (Genesis 22:3), and upon such an animal did the Messiah enter Jerusalem, as the prophet Zechariah foretold:
“Behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass.” (Zechariah 9:9)

Camels, too, were the ships of the desert, bearing goods and men across arid lands. They carried the caravans of the Midianites and the spices of the East. When the servant of Abraham sought a wife for Isaac, it was by camel that he journeyed (Genesis 24:10).

Chariots of War and Glory

The chariot was the marvel of empires — swift, formidable, and borne by horses trained for battle. Pharaoh's army pursued Israel with chariots (Exodus 14:7), but they were undone by the hand of God at the Red Sea. The chariot was not only a tool of war, but a sign of might and pride.

Yet the prophet Elisha, when taken up, beheld a vision far greater:
“Behold, there appeared a chariot of fire... and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” (2 Kings 2:11)

The true power of the chariot was not in its wheels, but in the message it carried — of judgment, deliverance, or the presence of the Lord.

On Foot and in Fellowship

Many journeyed on foot — the most ancient and enduring form of travel. From the wandering of Jacob to the ministry of Jesus and His disciples, the dust-covered path was the way of the righteous. Christ walked the shores of Galilee, the roads of Judea, and the hills of Jerusalem, bringing healing wherever His feet did tread.

“And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.” (Luke 17:11)

So too did the early apostles travel by foot and by ship, spreading the good news to distant lands.

Ships Upon the Sea

In time, men took to the waters. Noah, by God’s command, built an ark — a vessel of salvation (Genesis 6). Centuries later, ships carried Paul across the Mediterranean as he preached Christ crucified.

These ships, guided by stars and wind, bore witness to storms, shipwrecks, and miracles. They were the vessels of both peril and providence.

In all these ways — by donkey or camel, by chariot or on foot, by boat across the sea — the people of God moved with purpose. Their journeys were not merely of distance, but of calling. And through it all, the Lord was their guide:

“The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.”
(Psalm 121:8)