Against Geography

So Abram moved his tent, and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron; and there he built an altar to the Lord. – Genesis 13:18 (NRSV) 

Go to Israel and try to find the place Abram pitched his tent, built an altar, and later entertained some important angels, and a dozen knowledgeable tour guides will tell you they know exactly the place. Trouble is, they won’t agree with each other. Search it up online and you’ll get the same results, with multiple locations claiming to be the real deal, and archeologists throwing up their hands and putting up their dukes. 

This is frustrating if you’re the kind of person that wants to find The Exact Place. Then again, if no place is guaranteed to be the place, then anyplace could be. Abram’s tent could be the one pitched in your back yard. The oaks of Mamre could be in the park down the street. There’s no reason at all not to think that Sarai fixed a meal for three angels in right in your kitchen. Abram’s altar could be the one in the corner of your dining room. It could be the one inside you. 

It’s entirely possible that the first hearers of Abram and Sarai’s story would have known exactly where their altar was; it’s possible one of the sites currently vying for the honor is it. And while I’d like to know the truth about it as much as you would (not to mention the crucifixion, the resurrection, the nativity, the baptism and, and, and…), unchaining stories like these from literal places allows them to migrate. To expand beyond geography and right into the human heart. 

Prayer
Let this land and every land be The Holy Land. Amen.

About the Author
Quinn G. Caldwell is Chaplain of the Protestant Cooperative Ministry at Cornell University. His most recent book is a series of daily reflections for Advent and Christmas called All I Really Want: Readings for a Modern Christmas. Learn more about it and find him on Facebook at Quinn G. Caldwell.