Follow Me West: The Legend of Abraham

By H. L. Jacks

If you like biblical history and stories, and if you like westerns, then you will love this book. Even if you are not a fan of westerns, you will still love this book. Sonny has take the life of Abraham and Sara from the Old Testament and converted the entire story in to the 1800’s. Everything that happens to Abraham and Sara throughout their life is in this story only it is set along the wagon trails, ranches and small towns. It is a historical fiction with a taste of sci-fi in the fact that it contains all the spiritual events that are taught in the Bible. Follow Me West brings to life a story that most cannot imagine.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: Jul 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9781489724083

H. L. Jacks

H. L. “Sonny” Jacks grew up in Antlers, Oklahoma, where he was raised by the strongest prayer warrior in the world, his mother, Shirley. After earning a degree from East Central Oklahoma State University, he married, had two children, and began working in the marketing arena. For the past fifteen years, Sonny has written devotionals, study guides, commentaries, poetry, music, manuscripts, and traveled as a motivational speaker.

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Copyright © 2019 H. L. Sonny Jacks.

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Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Scripture quotations marked (GNT) are from the Good News Translation in Today’s English Version- Second Edition Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.

ISBN: 978-1-4897-2409-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-2407-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-2408-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019909961

LifeRich Publishing rev. date: 07/17/2019

CONTENTS

Chapter 1 The Ranch

Chapter 2 Leaving the ranch

Chapter 3 The Early Rain

Chapter 4 Little Egypt

Chapter 5 Lot moves away

Chapter 6 Abram rescues Lot

Chapter 7 Abram and Hagar

Chapter 8 Abram becomes Abraham

Chapter 9 Sarah Hears God

Chapter 10 Sodom and Gomorrah

Chapter 11 The Birth of Isaac

Chapter 12 Hagar Leaves the Ranch

Chapter 13 Abraham to Sacrifice Isaac

Chapter 14 Sarah Dies

Chapter 15 A wife for Isaac

Chapter 16 Abraham Goes Home

DEDICATION

S O, WHO DOES A SMALL town country boy dedicate his first published book to? Well, to God. This book isn’t about anything other than hopefully encouraging readers to find out more about Abraham and the life he had following God.

I have been blessed in my life to be surrounded by Christian people like my mother. My mother is a single mother that raised me and my two sisters by herself. Moving us from the city as children to a place we thought was surely hell, was the best thing she could have ever done, other than her continuous prayer. She moved us to the small town of Antlers, Oklahoma where she grew up as a child. There she worked six days a week to provide for the entire family. As I wrote this book, the events of our lives made me realize, again, just how special she really is. During this time, my elder sister, Teresa, was involved in a head on collision. She has spent the past three months in the hospital at Dallas TX. Every weekend, my mother leaves her home and travels the three hour drive to stay with Teresa from Saturday to Tuesday. She stays in her room sleeping in a chair. She returns home on Tuesday, works in her beauty shop Wednesday through Friday and returns to Teresa early Saturday morning. During all of that, I happened to have a heart attack and ended up in the Heart Hospital in Oklahoma City. I considered what I would be thinking if both of my children should knock on deaths door within weeks of each other. It would be devastating. My mother never wavered in her faith and in her prayers. She kept believing and kept on praying. Today as I write this, my sister is being brought home from the hospital to stay with my mother and as you can tell, I am fine. She is our rock.

My wife, she is as solid as they come. Trust me, I am not that easy to grow up with, and that is exactly what we have done. From the first time I talked with her at her locker in southwest hall of Jr. High, and every day since, though I have not always shown it, I have been blessed by God. We were married on July 4, 1979 at the ages of nineteen and eighteen. We have honestly grown up together. She gives all of us a beautiful example of direction and discipline in our spiritual lives. I hope as we continue to grow old together I am able to bless her life as she blesses all of ours. I love my JennyJack!

My children; Quite honestly my children are just a straight gifts from God. They are both headed for an eternity with Jesus Christ and if they did nothing else in their lives, that would be good enough for me. They are gifted with talent, compassion, discipline and understanding of what it means to be an example. Through the every day happenings in their lives they continue to impress both their mother and I. They inspire me daily. My love could not be stronger and will never grow weaker.

There are many friends and acquaintances that have guided me and helped me along my way. I will never be able to tell them all what they mean to me. God bless each of you.

As special thank you to Randy and Trina Low who have made the dream of publishing this book become a reality.

But this book, this book is dedicated to God.

FORWARD

M OST RELIGIONS TODAY AGREE THAT Abraham is the Patriarch of their Religion. Christianity teaches that the story of Abraham is more than the story of one man; he is the Patriarch of the Jewish nation.

Abraham’s story is that Abraham enters into a covenant with God and God tells Abraham to leave his homeland and just follow Gods daily direction. We all know the story as it is written in the Bible in the book of Genesis. But, how would that same story sound if it was written in the days of the old west? What if the story has Abraham and his descendants, as God tells them to leave their homes and follow Him, starting out on a cattle drive and wagon train, and what if the story has Abraham as the trail boss who continually leads the people to trust in God as they face extreme hardships along the trail.

If you are like me, you have had times where you have had trouble personalizing the stories in the Bible. Until my wife and I traveled to the land of Israel, when I read stories about great men in the Bible like Abraham and the places where they lived, well to be honest, sometimes they were just great stories that we have always trusted by faith. But, when I got to go there and walked in all the places that the Bible talks about, the stories came alive to me, and then I could visualize those Bible stories taking place. Most of us have never been or will never be able to go to the land of Israel to see the places where the stories of the Bible were written. So it is with great honor that I get to introduce you to my friend and writer, Sonny Jacks.

Sonny has written this book in your hands which is titled Follow Me West, The Legend of Abraham. In this wonderful story of the life of Abraham, Sonny doesn’t take us to the land of Israel; He brings Abraham to the old west. I have been around stories of the old west all my life, so as I read this story I could imagine myself in every hardship and every struggle they faced. Every time Abraham taught his people to trust in God I could see my own life in a whole new perspective as God fulfills the promises He made to Abraham.

Well, I hope you are as intrigued as I am because you are about to go on a journey. You are not just going to be transported into the adventurous times of the old west but you are going to get to see the life of Abraham thru the eyes of a great story teller Sonny Jacks.

So, saddle your horse, put on your spurs, and mount up. God is about to take you on the ride of a lifetime.

Aaron Reed, Pastor

First Baptist Church, Antlers Ok.

PREFACE

I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO enjoy the art of writing for many years. For the most part it has been daily devotionals that were published in our small town newspaper or to the followers that received them via internet. I have also greatly enjoyed writing songs for both praise and worship services and for specials. One of my greatest writing enjoyments was the verse by verse devotionals and studies that I have written such as Riding through Romans that will soon be published. However, nothing I have ever written has intrigued me as mush as Follow Me West; The Legend of Abraham. It has allowed me the chance to really look into the daily life of Abraham and his family and use my imagination and understanding of the country life to blend together the facts and experiences of the Bibles documentation of Abraham’s life with the fictional background of the wild, west. Admittedly there are events in the book that are not in the Bible as well as characters, but every event that Abraham experienced is written into this western adventure. The whole purpose is to help you see how exciting the Bible can be, how hard our ancestors worked to please God and encourage you to read the word of God and give yourself a chance to experience the power, joy and peace of His righteousness. Now, quit reading this nonsense and get to the story!!!

CHAPTER 1

The Ranch

A S THE SMOOTH BREEZE MAKES its way through the window above the pine cabinets of the kitchen it catches Sarai’s attention. She moves her hair from around her face and lifts her head for a chance to breath in the morning air. Or at least what would have been the morning air. Instead she smells the aroma of livestock in every essence of the word.

Her small rustic home sits in the middle of the cattle ranch. In every direction she can see the men and women that are putting in an honest day’s work. Gazing out the window across the small fenced yard and the dry summer dirt of the cattle run, she notices that Abram and his father have stopped work and are talking by the barn.

She has been Abram’s wife for many years and over that time she has learned every body motion that he has. His slumped shoulders and the occasional look toward the sky tell her that they are discussing something that neither of them is happy about. Abram’s father looks to the ground and kicks away dried manure. With neither of them being able to contain their feelings, they embrace and show a father and son bond of emotion that Sarai has rarely seen on the ranch. Something is certainly wrong. Abram glances toward the house and sees Sarai looking out the window. She quickly looks back toward the dishes she had been washing and then moves away from the window. She dares not take a second glance.

Abram is a tall lean rough riding man. He has grown up on the ranch and worked for his father all his life, and life has been hard. Since he was a boy he has had the ability to ride and rope with the best. Even when hired hands were killed during cattle drives, young Abram never faulted on his responsibilities. He fought his fights, winning some and losing some, but never backing away. As time passed and Abram grew, the losing some, became a thing of the past. His hands are as calloused as boot leather. His skin remains darkened by the scorching of summer sun. His clothes are always three days worn and dusted from the fourteen hour days of ranching. His hat settles deep on his head and without as much as a word his expression from under the brim commands respect. Abram never had any desire to leave or do anything other than ranch. He was born to be a cowboy. Some men just have that in them.

The rusted hinges of the front door grind as Abram enters the house. Sarai is still standing in front of the kitchen cabinets and does not look back toward him as he hangs his hat on the partially rotted deer antlers that are nailed just inside the door. Even though Sarai is no longer doing the dishes she can tell that Abram needs a minute without words. In a few minutes Abram cracks the door back open, spits out past the porch and closes the door again.

He clears his throat.

Sarai, I need ya to fix a little extra for dinner, I’m gonna call the men in to eat.

Sarai turns and faces her husband. With her hands behind her she grasps the cabinet and leans back against it.

She hesitates and then asks, Abe, everything alright?

Abram debates on whether or not he should tell her what’s going on. He turns his back to her contemplating what to say as he gets his hat right back off the antlers. While wiping off the dust and re-adjusting the crease of his hat, he says,

Everything’ll be good. I’ll explain to ya in a bit. For now, just make sure we got plenty to eat.

He puts on his hat, grabs the door and looks back at Sarai. With an ornery half smile, he walks to her. Holding her close to his chest with his arms firmly around her shoulders he attempts to settle her thoughts.

I always give ya a wild ride of life don’t I?

She nestles closer to him wrapping her arms around his lower waist.

Most the time, she answers.

He presses back with both calloused hands on her shoulders and being as gentle as he can he looks into the brown eyes that have been the settling factor for many years. With dust outlining every sun aged wrinkle in his face, he smiles.

Well, get-a-hold, we’re bout to ride again.

Her eyebrows lower as her mind races with curiosity.

What does that mean?

Abram steps to her side and lifts a tin cup of water from the cabinet. Without realizing it was full of soapy dish water he takes a swig. Apparently it tasted better than dirt because he never says a word. As he wanders back toward the door he replies,

You’ll see what I mean later this evening, for now, ya best get to cook’n.

He walks out of the house and as usual he leaves the front door just a bit open. Sarai can’t begin to remain calm as she peers out the kitchen window and watches him walk back toward the corrals. She shakes her head and then moves over and closes the door. The creaking of rusted hinges catches Abram’s attention and he glances back to the house with a half smile.

Earlier in the years Abram’s brother had been one of the unfortunate that were killed during a month long cattle drive across the plains. The brother had left behind a son by the name of Lot. Lot is quite a character. He is as tough as a worn out saddle. If it is dangerous and requires guts or maybe just ignorance, you can count on young Lot to be the first in line. He is up at the crack of dawn and the last one down at night. He isn’t tall and lean like Abram but is still in great shape, an average size man with an extra large heart and personality.

As Abram walks away from the house he’s watching Lot brand a young heifer. The smell of burning cow hair is embedded into Lots gloves as he reaches out to shake Abram’s hand.

Morn’n boss! he says as he extends his hand.

Abram looks down towards the extended glove.

I ain’t shaken that glove.

Lot smiles, spits in his glove and rubs his hands together vigorously. He then kisses the palm of his glove as to show how tough his gut is. Abram laughs, shakes his head and then looks out toward the herd.

When ya get done I need ya to round up the boys. Tell em to meet me at the house tonight for dinner.

Lot shoves the hot iron into the hind quarters of another heifer.

Really! What’s up? he asks.

Though Abram is as patient as a staring cat, sometimes he is a little annoyed with questions so he replies with sarcasm.

I’m announcing that this is your last week. Abram answers.

Lot takes a quick glance toward Abram. Abram smiles as he watches two other hired hands burn the ranch brand into another bawling heifer.

Just make sure ya get everybody to the house at sundown. Pa said he would have his men watch the night shift.

Lot realizes his job was still safe and answers,

You ain’t right Abe!

He then grabs the branding iron from the hired hand and points it toward Abram. The smoke of burning cow hair is steaming off the red hot brand. Lot cocks his eyebrow up as if to say Do ya dare me? Abram never moved. *A patient man can show wisdom but a quick tempered man will make a mistake.

Lot lets out a grunt of laughter,

Okay, I’ll make sure they’re there.

Abram pats him on the back and heads towards the barn. Between the whispering of his jeans and the singing of his spurs there is a presence about Abram that causes every man along his path to acknowledge him. Some simply nod their heads while others completely stop work and catch his eye. Abram, though standing heads above everyone he meets in both physical stature and prestige, is also the most humble of anyone he meets. This, more than any other factor, is the reason he gets respect. As Abram makes his way toward the barn, his father appears in the shadows of the main stalls. In his hands are the reins to his favorite leather bridle. Behind him comes the Bay horse.

This Bay is a prize stud who had first been noticed in a herd of wild horses about four years ago. Abram’s father had immediately laid claim to this colt. He began to train the colt when it became a two year old.

Who ya got behind ya, Pa? Abram asks.

Pa pulls the Bay closer and feeds him a hand full of grain. Without a word, he drops the reins and walks around the hind quarters to pick up an old, worn out saddle blanket. He wipes the dust off the horse’s back and lays the blanket on him.

Ol Bay looks good, don’t he Abe?

He still does! Abram answers.

Pa throws the saddle onto the horse. He then walks around the flank of the horse, reaches under the girth and cinches the saddle down about three-quarters.

Where ya headed? Abram asks.

I’m fixin’ to go have that beautiful Sarai fix me another cup of coffee. Pa answers.

A little confused, Abram re-organizes his question as he lifts the stud’s foot and checks the back hooves.

I meant on Bay.

His Pa re-adjusts the halter, centers the saddle, gives the girth another tightening, walks over and hands the reins to Abram.

Your gonna need the best….He’s the best.

He looks at Abram with a father’s pride as his old shaking hands are extended.

Go see how ya like em.

Abram stands in a shocked and dazed state of consciousness. For a second he denied the gift, but his Dad demanded.

You’re giving me the Bay? Abram asks.

He was yours all along, you just didn’t know it.

Abram’s father can see that he had blessed his son. Abram walks around his new prize procession at least four times. After smiling at his Pa, he mounts up, spins the Bay in a couple of circles and heads out toward the hills. Pride overwhelms Pa as he watches the silhouette of his son ride into the sun. The dust under foot of the Bay creates a larger cloud the harder the he ran until they have run out of sight.

Abram has ridden the Bay off the other side of the mountain and toward a hidden place that he had found when he was still a boy. He often rode to this area when he needed to be alone, and today, he needed to be alone. Abram climbs out of the saddle and loosens the girth from under the Bay. The Bay is tied to a weak tree hidden from the sun. Abram then climbs into an area of rocks that makes for a perfect seat. He settles in and removes his hat. He takes the rag from around his neck and wipes his face. By now most of the day has passed and the sun is headed down the backside of the horizon. He sits there for several minutes just taking in the view. For all his life he has had chances to sit and absorb everything around him and nothing is ever the same. Most of the trees have grown taller, some have passed and some have broken. The earth has moved its features through wind and storm. The animals from deer to buffalo to doves and quail to any hot natured insect have all passed through the valley that he overlooks. God’s creation may be consistent but it is also ever changing. Abram lays his head back and closes his eyes to pray.

The evidence of the stressful conversation Abram had with his father is suddenly found in the words of his prayer. In the peace of the moment Abram allows his soul to be at one with God. He sits quietly and allows the Spirit of God to relax within him. Then as a whisper of wind, as from the very anthem of the clouds, the voice of God clearly speaks out,

"I want you to leave your father’s place, take your herd and family and go to the new land I will show you. I am going to give you many children and many blessings."

Abram lais still, partially because of his spirit, partially in respect and most definitely in fear. He then opens one eye slowly. There is no wind, no birds, and no movement. As an unexpected mist whistles through the branches the Bay blows and quickly raises his head and perks his ears startling Abram just a bit. The wind had vanished just as quickly as it whistled by and an unusual peace comes upon the countenance of Abram. He has long been a servant to God in every aspect of his life. Anyone that knows him knows that he is driven to glorify the Lord. But now, he has witnessed, in a way that he will never be able to explain, the very presence of God. For the second time God has given him this message. He stands to his feet and stretches his back, knocks some dust off his pants with his hat, looks around to see if anyone else is with him and nods his head toward heaven. In amazement and still just a little uncertain of what had just happen he grins.

Okay, then, he says with a sigh, Let’s go.

He pulls down on the brim of his hat, girths the Bay, settles himself into the time proven saddle of his Pa’s and heads back to the ranch.

As Abram rides back to the barn he can see that all of the hired hands have already gathered in his cabin. He walks the Bay into the barn and unsaddles him taking a few extra minutes to brush him down. Many times the ranch horses are put up wet with the white foamy