Go
A Word of Action and Obedience
Few words carry as much theological weight in Scripture as the simple command "go." Appearing hundreds of times across both Testaments, it represents far more than physical movement. In the Bible, going is an act of faith, a response to divine calling, and the fundamental posture of a people sent by God into the world. The Hebrew and Greek languages use dozens of different words that English translates as "go," each with its own shade of meaning, from walking and journeying to ascending and descending, entering and departing.
God's Call to Go in the Old Testament
The biblical story of faith begins with a command to go. God told Abraham, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you" (Genesis 12:1). This single command set in motion the entire narrative of salvation history. Abraham obeyed without knowing his destination, and his willingness to go became the foundational model of faith (Hebrews 11:8).
Moses received his own "go" at the burning bush: "Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt" (Exodus 3:10). Joshua was commanded, "Arise, go over this Jordan" (Joshua 1:2). Isaiah heard the Lord ask, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" and responded, "Here am I! Send me" (Isaiah 6:8). In each case, the call to go required leaving behind the familiar and stepping into God's uncertain but purposeful plan.
Going as a Way of Life
Beyond specific commands, the Hebrew words for "go" are often used figuratively to describe a person's entire manner of living. To "walk in God's ways" (Deuteronomy 19:9) means to live according to his commands. The righteous "go" in paths of integrity (Psalm 15:2), while the wicked "go" in crooked ways (Proverbs 2:15). This figurative usage transforms physical movement into a metaphor for moral and spiritual direction.
The Old Testament also uses "go" to describe death. When someone died, they "went the way of all the earth" (Joshua 23:14; 1 Kings 2:2). King Jehoram "departed without being desired" (2 Chronicles 21:20). This euphemistic usage reflects the biblical understanding of death as a journey or departure rather than mere cessation.
Jesus and the Command to Go
Jesus filled the word "go" with new urgency. He called his first disciples with the invitation to follow, which inherently meant leaving their nets and going with him (Mark 1:17-18). He sent out the twelve apostles with the instruction, "Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 10:6). He later sent out seventy-two others ahead of him into every town and place where he was about to go (Luke 10:1).
To those he healed, Jesus often said, "Go in peace" (Mark 5:34) or "Go, show yourself to the priest" (Matthew 8:4). To the rich young ruler, he said, "Go, sell what you possess and give to the poor" (Matthew 19:21). Each "go" carried a specific purpose and required a response of faith.
The Great Commission
The most famous use of "go" in the New Testament is the Great Commission: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20). This command transforms the church into a missionary community whose fundamental identity is shaped by movement outward toward the world.
The book of Acts records the church living out this commission. Philip was told, "Rise and go toward the south" (Acts 8:26). Paul received his mission in a vision: "Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles" (Acts 22:21). The Holy Spirit directed the church's going, sometimes preventing travel in one direction to redirect missionaries elsewhere (Acts 16:6-10).
The Theological Significance of Going
The biblical call to "go" reveals a God who sends rather than merely summons. While other ancient religions centered on pilgrimage to a sacred place, the God of the Bible sends his people outward. Abraham went toward an unknown land. Moses went back to Egypt. The prophets went to unfriendly audiences. Jesus went to the cross. The apostles went to the ends of the earth. In every case, the act of going was inseparable from the act of trusting God with the outcome.
Biblical Context
The word "go" appears in virtually every book of the Bible. Key instances include God's call to Abraham (Genesis 12:1), Moses's commission (Exodus 3:10), Joshua's charge (Joshua 1:2), Isaiah's response (Isaiah 6:8), Jesus's sending of the disciples (Matthew 10:5-6; Luke 10:1), the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), and the missionary journeys of Acts (Acts 8:26; 13:2; 16:6-10). The figurative use of "going" or "walking" to describe a way of life pervades the Psalms, Proverbs, and the epistles.
Theological Significance
The command to "go" reveals God's missionary character and his intention to bless all nations through his people. It teaches that faith is not passive but active, requiring believers to step out in obedience even when the destination or outcome is unclear. The progression from Abraham's individual call to the Great Commission's universal scope shows that God's plan has always been global. Going in faith is presented as the antithesis of the self-centered building of Babel (Genesis 11:4), where humanity sought to stay and make a name for itself.
Historical Background
In the ancient Near East, movement was fraught with danger: bandits, disease, harsh terrain, and hostile territories made travel a serious undertaking. The willingness to go when God commanded was therefore a profound act of trust. Trade routes like the Via Maris and the King's Highway connected the ancient world, and Israel sat at the crossroads of these routes, making the theme of going and coming a daily reality. In the Greco-Roman world of the New Testament, the Roman road system and the Pax Romana made unprecedented travel possible, providing the infrastructure through which the early church carried out the Great Commission.