JUNE272023

For the next three weeks the first reading will be taken from the book of Genesis, beginning with the Abraham (Abram) cycle. Looking at the Bible stories serves as a vivid reminder that these were real people who lived in concrete circumstances. Abram lived around 1850BC, during the bronze age. The story of his movement from what is now Iraq through Mesopotamia and eventually into Canaan reflects the historical and economic conditions of his time. The ability to create and manipulate bronze made for better plows, superior axes for clearing the land, and improved tools for harvesting — farming was ascending. Coming down to modern times herdsman, like Abram, and farmers compete for land and Abram’s family moved to give his flocks greater pasture. What makes this a Bible story and not an account of culture or history is that Abram saw the hand of God leading him every step of the journey. Our cultural, economic, social circumstance are for us, as for Abram, an opportunity to find the presence of God if we have the eyes to see.