The Peaceful Hill Country

“Chedorlaomer and the kings allied with him…” Though not the first mention of kingdoms, it is the first mention of alliances and tribute.

There is this very common trajectory of consolidation of power, first over a subject population and then leveraging one kind of power to consolidate more power through additional subjugation. Taxes and tribute, force and rebellion and war.

This is apparently how it works in the well-watered plain. The strange counterpoint to all this is Abram, living with his riches in the hills, apparently unafraid of marauding armies. Although he is a man not above anxiety, neither is he without courage. Yet, whatever he was feeling during these years, he is strangely untouched by these troubles.

For now, he rests in the peace and promise of his relationship with the God of Creation. May we all find such peace this morning.