The Godly Play version

'Well, never mind. Change your names anyway.'

Sometimes Abram would go out to the edge of the desert and look out across the sand and into the sky. Then God came so close to Abram, and Abram came so close to God, that he knew what God wanted him to do. God wanted Abram and Sarai to move on again to another new place.
Abram and Sarai did what God said. They went into the desert to the west of Haran and walked toward Canaan. They went with all their sheep, their tents and many helpers. Abram’s brother’s son, Lot, also went with them. This time there was no river to show the way or to give them water to drink.
They finally came to a place called Shechem. Abram climbed up a hill and prayed to God, and God was there, so Abram built an altar to mark the place. Then they went on.
Next they came to a place called Bethel. Abram prayed again and God was there, also. Abram built an altar to mark this place, too. God was not just here or there. All of God was everywhere.
Then they went on to Hebron to make their home, near the oaks of Mamre.
One night God brought Abram outside. He looked up into the sky. God came so close to Abram, and Abram came so close to God, that Abram knew what God was saying. ‘You will become the father of a great family, and Sarai will be the mother. The members of that family will be as many as there are stars in the sky and grains of sand in the desert.’
Abram laughed. He and Sarai were very old. God’s promise sounded impossible, but God said to change their names anyway. Abram was to be Abraham and Sarai was to be Sarah.