Nomads: Distinct by Design—What Sets Them Apart and What We Can Learn?

Nomads were never in the box!

Introduction:

What makes a people ‘distinct’? 
Language? Physical features? Specific traditions and ways of behaving? What makes you and your people distinct or different from any other ethnic group? For nomads, this question is not just about survival and it isn’t merely about acting “different”—it’s about identity, purpose, and calling. Even when they settle, their sense of being ‘set apart’ remains strong, woven into their stories, proverbs, and traditions. They may still “think like nomads” for 4 or more generations! What is it that makes nomads different? How much of that distinctiveness is revealed in the nomads in the Bible? How does this distinctiveness affect relationships with nomads today?    
After talking about nomadic distinctiveness I have met three different people married to a nomad who responded that I had finally helped them understand certain areas of conflict in their marriage! I’ve also met nomads themselves who didn’t consider themselves nomads because they had been settled for a generation or two. Through our conversations, some realized for the first time that their nomadic heritage still drove their values! One young man from an American tribe with a strong nomadic heritage exclaimed, “Wow, you are finally helping me understand myself!” So it is important to make clear, that although it is about how they see mobility, it is NOT just about moving. 

Their sense of being ‘set apart’ is reflected in many aspects of their culture, mindset, and faith.

Section 1: Distinct in Identity—What Defines a NOMAD?
Let’s take a minute to review our working definition of NOMADs:
    •    Naturally Networking
    •    Organized in Clans/Tribes
    •    Mobility as a Resource
    •    Autonomous and Self-Sufficient
    •    Distinct from Sedentary People

Today we are highlighting this last item, the aspect of being “Distinct”.
By now you should realize that nomads don’t just live differently—they see themselves as different. While this distinct identity links to their mobility, it also includes their collectivist clan structures and their cultural values of autonomy and resilience. Their clan structure makes plural pronouns more prominent than singular pronouns. In an Asian nomadic community, some friends were pleased about how I was learning from them, so one day they asked me to tell them about things that I had learned. After hearing several positive stories they said, “Okay, Ron, we’re glad you are learning so many good things, but tell us something bad, something that you think is NOT good about our culture.” Well, I tried to side-step the question. But we were going to be walking for another hour or so, and they kept on asking me to tell them some negative thing that I had heard. So I confess that I kind of played a game on them. I told them that I had learned what seemed to be a very bad word in the culture. Of course, they wanted to know what THAT word might be! I explained that I can’t say that word out loud. My mother used to wash my mouth out with soap when I said bad words. They said, “Don’t worry, we won’t do that to you.” Then I told them I couldn’t say that word with ladies and children present. So the men told all the ladies and children to back up. Well, I felt cornered. I looked over my shoulder to the right and left. Then I leaned in close and whispered their word for “mine”. Well, you should have seen them! They were all duly shocked and appalled. And they all agreed, “No, we should never use that awful word.” 
This concept is true for most of what we call “the majority” world. To be explicit, that means that the majority of the earth’s population thinks collectively, not individualistically! So, look back at our 5-part definition of nomads. If your mind hasn’t clicked on this yet, NOMADic Networking, Mobility, Autonomy, and Distinct, are all interlaced with Organized by clan or tribe. Another English word that also starts with “O” and sums this up is “Our”. Networking is for OUR community’s benefit and protection. Mobility is a resource for OUR community. OUR community is autonomous from others. And we value OUR distinctive heritage. 
I have invented another acronym: NO-AD, which is NOMAD without the “Mobility”, and describes most collectivist cultures that are settled. Look for more about that in my next episode.
Section 2: Distinct in Culture—How Nomads See Themselves
Most human groups share a sense of “us” vs. “them”, including nomads. Many nomadic groups see themselves as part of an ancient, honored heritage. Only a few lament their nomadic heritage, as having resulted, for example, from an ancestor who was cursed to roam, sort of like Cain after murdering his brother! (Recall episode 3, Organized by Clan). 

Even when settled, they uphold their identity through traditions, clothing, and oral histories. This self-perception unites them but creates boundaries with outsiders.

There may be contradictions in the perception of their own mobility. 
I mentioned in episode 4, on Mobility and Digital Nomads, that settled nomads may admire their mobile counterparts for preserving tradition while simultaneously looking down on their lifestyle as “backward.” Many Pashtun in urban India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan romanticize their nomadic heritage but are unwilling to return to such a lifestyle today, seeing themselves as “more civilized” now.

Nomads considered themselves distinct back in Bible times, too. Can you name one of the “good guys” in the Bible who was NOT a nomad? Think through our NOMAD definition. Then put your answers in the comments below. Most people struggle with this one and don’t get it right. Give it a try.

Think about how often God used nomads like Abraham, Moses, and David to demonstrate what it means to live as a distinct people. Their mobility and distinct identity enabled them to depend on God, trust His provision, and serve as witnesses to the nations. They were in a position to be a witness to many “nations” precisely because they ended up traveling and interacting with so many. In another episode I will point out several places where Biblical nomads spread faith in God the creator, who is just, and merciful, and how the shepherds were those who walked humbly with Him… or didn’t.

Section 3: Distinct in Faith—Why God Chose Nomads in Scripture
Take a look at God’s pattern of choosing nomads. The lives of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus show a divine preference for working through people on the move. Mobility enabled them to remain unattached to worldly power structures, relying on God for their needs. Their distinctiveness made them effective witnesses—different from the settled nations around them. They were nomadic pastoralists. And God often identified Himself as their supreme Shepherd. How many stories can you think of that exemplify the adage, “Where God guides, He provides”? 

Consider some of the nomadic values that are aligned with Biblical Themes:
    • Collectivism: Strong extended family and community bonds reflect God’s covenantal promises. His covenants were never intended to be applied individualistically. 
    • Mobility: A reminder to trust in God’s provision, as seen in the Exodus and Jesus’ ministry. Remember that mobility was enshrined in the law itself. They were required to make pilgrimages to Jerusalem at least once every year. This left a yearning for Jerusalem, no matter where in the world they ended up as diaspora peoples. Tents are mentioned as common dwellings even in the New Testament. Who were Priscilla and Aquila making tents for as far away as Rome and even after leaving Rome? Then Paul quite naturally joined them, apparently already knowing the trade. God Himself seems to prefer tents as a dwelling through the time of Moses and David and again in the book of Revelation. 
    • Autonomy: This is a posture of humility, not arrogance. It has to do with reliance on God rather than on human systems of control. I have seen many shepherds demonstrate love and kindness to their sheep and goats. But during migration, a shepherd will always sharply rebuke their animals for one action: When a goat or sheep begins to wander away from or even ahead of the shepherd. Such individualistic autonomy or autonomy from God is not tolerated. Take a look at Ezekiel 34. 

Section 4: The Shepherd’s call to us today
As followers of The Good Shepherd, we are called to live as distinct people in the world.

Consider how to maintain distinctiveness in a world that erases differences through global communications, travel, and attempts to replace minority cultures with huge dominant cultures. How can you show that you value a nomadic culture? How will that affect your witness to them?

How can understanding nomadic distinctiveness challenge us to live differently?

What does this mean for you who might be called to reach nomads?
    • Recognize and respect their distinct identity.
    • Learn their history, proverbs, and worldview to build bridges.
    • Be prepared to honor their heritage even as you share Jesus.

The Good Shepherd for all Christians:
    • Reflect on your sense of being “set apart” in a world that values assimilation.
    • How can we embody the values of mobility, community, and trust in God that nomads demonstrate so well?

Practical Challenge:
    • Take time to research a nomadic group like the Fulani, Tuareg, Roma, Gujjar, or Navajo. I won’t list them all here: close to 400!  (If you would like to see this list, click and Join the Journey on courses.nomadicpeoples.net. Register Free and you'll also get our Let Nomads Move you! newsletter.)
    • Read through Proverbs and see how many verses you can identify that reflect some aspect of our definition of NOMAD.
     • Take time to reflect on a biblical nomad like Abraham or Moses.
    • What does their story teach you about living distinctively in your context?

    • What are you learning, that you can add to this section? Tell me in the comments below what lessons can we learn from nomads about being “in the world but not of it”? I would like to use your comments in an upcoming episode. 

Conclusion:
Nomads have always been distinct by design—whether through their mobility, their collective mindset, or their faith. In a world that often pressures us to conform, their example challenges us to embrace our calling as a distinct people. How might their stories move you to live differently today?

Call to Action!
    • Share your thoughts or questions in the comments.
    • Consider joining us for Nomad Connect to explore this topic further. In the meantime, sign up for Let Nomads Move You! to keep up to date on all things NOMAD. 

What does Organized by clan look like?

A clan meeting at roughly 11,000 ft / 3,400 m

1. Introduction
My Navajo friend, Ben Y, told me how he and his people were taught by the ‘white missionaries’ that the Navajo clan structure was of the devil, and they needed to abandon that and let the church be their new “tribe.” Unfortunately, this has been repeated in many tribal contexts. Ben said, “Fortunately, I read the Bible! That’s where I found out that God himself instituted the concept of clan and tribe.” 
Let’s review our working definition of NOMAD. NOMADs are Not individualistic, but rather, the Networking of relationships, both externally and internally, seems built into their DNA. Internally they’re Organized as clans or tribes. They see Mobility as a resource (even if they don’t appear to use it!). They highly value their group's Autonomy. And they see themselves as Distinct from people with a sedentary heritage. 
You can examine your own background, but in my observation, most of us in the USA are highly individualistic. We make our own decisions with little thought about how it impacts our extended family. Sure, many with a nomadic heritage can also make personal decisions, but even so, they never quite see themselves as separated from their extended family, clan, and tribe. Nomads on all continents have told me that to be cut off from their clan would be a fate worse than death. And those who were told that the church would be their new “clan or tribe” have ended up sorely disappointed.
And then, like Brother Ben, when they look into the Bible they are confused. They can see the clan structure clearly in Scripture and can’t figure out why their “white” brothers and sisters can’t see it. 
2. So, What is a Clan?
I realize that some of you reading this may not even have siblings. Many may not have had much opportunity to relate to cousins, aunts, uncles, or grandparents. Just consider that for a minute. As an adult, how often do you get together with all of these family members? How about second cousins? How does that make you feel?
In simplistic terms, a clan is a tightly-knit extended family group. It is more than just having parents, siblings, cousins, etc. A Somali friend of mine was once asked, “Do you have a family?” What does that question mean in your mind? My Somali friend told me he could not answer such a ridiculous question. His mind shut down. To him, “family” included at least 30 or even 50 people, with whom he normally interacted on a weekly, if not daily, basis. If he traveled to another city, he never booked a hotel or even planned to ask who he might stay with when he got there. He would simply see another Somali, and after an initial conversation about who each was related to, the “stranger” would turn out to be someone like a 2nd cousin twice removed, and quite naturally invited him to come and stay as long as he needed. Asking would be rude since he would be expected to stay there!  No matter where in the world he might travel, if he met another Somali, they would each feel a deep sense of mutual responsibility as well as the benefit of being a part of the same clan, tribe, or federation. Being a member of such a clan and tribal structure provides mutual respect, security, and stability, even in a world of turmoil. Everyone has a place and a role, whether for herding, trade, defense, or provision. Nothing can be worse than being cut off from this. 
An exception might be if he came across someone whose connections included an enemy clan, and some ancestor who had done something shameful or treacherous.
I was crossing the Himalayas with a shepherd friend. This was not my friend’s normal migration route, but we knew how to get where we needed to go. We left the remote road at about 12,000 feet elevation. After a few hours up a steep path, we came upon a shepherd camp, and my friend went over and got a liter of goat’s buttermilk. No charge, just open hospitality for travelers. No, they were not relatives, just members of the same tribe. 
Maybe you can think of some Biblical parallels. 
Ostracism. Cain kills his brother. His punishment? Not death. Something worse. Ostracism. He killed his younger brother. As the older brother, “OF COURSE he was his brother’s keeper!” as an Afghan Pashtun shouted in a Bible study I was leading on Genesis 4 one time in Canada. He deserved the worst punishment possible, cursed to wander separated from God and his own people. A Berber friend from North Africa calls this his “banner of protection.” He cried out for mercy, saying this punishment was too much to bear. God extended an alternate banner of protection in the form of a mark of some kind. Such identifying marks, like a tattoo, are not unusual. 
Jacob also comes to mind. After some episodes of treachery, Jacob is threatened with murder by his brother (not ostracism, which would have been worse!). His mother tells him to go to her clan’s people, for protection and provision. All he had to do was show up. Once people figured out who each other was related to, the rest was easy. There was no thought about asking for a place to stay. Work to do? Easy. Need a wife? Done. Ok, make it two wives. Or four. (Ok, well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves!) Dowry? Don’t worry, it will all work out. 
Abraham and Lot. Who should get the first choice of land between what has become two large clans? Lot, of course. Why? Because he is the oldest son of the oldest son. Haran was older than Abraham. As such, tribal seniority goes to Lot. Honor and respect make that part something that can go without saying. Everybody knows that is the way it should be. 
Modern-day implications? As I’ve said elsewhere, these Biblical stories should not be dismissed as, “This is how things used to be done in ancient times, but not anymore.” Just considering nomads, there are over 400 million people in the world who still think and act this way. And that doesn’t begin to count the non-nomadic people who are still collectivists in their way of being. Globally, the individualists in northwestern Europe and North America are in the minority! Even in these continents, there are still many collectivist, even tribal ethos peoples. Many indigenous peoples, as well as the world’s diaspora of immigrants and refugees, still think this way. And I say this is a VERY GOOD thing. These people bring back to our neighborhood something of Biblical culture that settled and individualistic people have long forgotten. 
What can such inter-connected clan-thinking people teach us about relational interdependence? Consider this:  In Micah 6:8 it says we humans are to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. What would it look like to apply this to our own extended family members? 
Consider the church where you attend. How many of your extended family members are also attending the same congregation? Turn it around the other way. How can you bring the Good Shepherd into your own extended family? 

7. Conclusion
As our Navajo brother, Ben Y, observed, clans are foundational to his identity, which includes a strong nomadic heritage. He laments watching some of his cultural values disintegrate right before his very eyes. Christian missionaries from a sedentary and individualistic background have made Christianity appear anti-clan and anti-Navajo. This disintegration has left far too many Navajo feeling lost and disconnected from their proud heritage and from one another. As a result, far too many have descended into alcohol abuse and other destructive habits. Fortunately, Ben did read the Bible and is now finding ways to bring clan thinking back to his people and help them find their deeper identity in both their clan heritage and the clan heritage of the Bible. 
What about you? What are some ways you can see the value of community bonds in your own extended family? What would mutual responsibility look like between you and your cousins, aunts and uncles, parents, and grandparents? Keeping in mind that for nomads, this sense of mutual responsibility extends over multiple generations. It is not just to succeed in the current project you are working on, or the event you are attending. 
I look forward to your comments and suggestions for future articles.