Genesis 24:10 KJV
10 And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.

Genesis 24:53 KJV
53 And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.

Mesopotamia, nestled in modern day Iraq, is where the servant went from the promise land of his master Abraham. He carried with him gold, and silver jewels for both the bride to be and her family. Where did this silver come from, it came from mines in Turkey probably. Turkey has the oldest silver mines in history. Noah Ark is said to rest on Mount Ararat, in Northern Turkey. Probably both gold and silver came from this region. Trade coming all over the known world. This would of been around 3 BCE. Time of Abraham in this story is roughly 1857 BC. So gold and silver been known for a while. Probably dating at the maxium/minimum the time of ark, depending if you are looking before or after the flood. What will the generation after us say, if Christ returns not in this century, say about the change of our world after the pandemic. None of us can imagine a global flood. Yet it occured and no doubt changed Noah world drastically, setting it back to the time of early man, with knowledge of advancement of early man, being in Noah family. What was important to Noah after the flood, we know he built both an altar to God and then a vineyard. He grew grapes, made wine and got drunk. Survival from all the modern supply of the modern age gone before Noah, and yet knowledge to build and create was still in his mind and the mind of his wife, his children and their wives.

The stark reality of the day after any storm, any disaster, any famine and any pandemic. Though some of these situations are not as bad as others, it effects people in different ways. Some starting over from scratch able to look at maybe a new phone or ipad, to see the world still exist and it only their world in disaster mode. The need to go elsewhere away from disaster, while other run straight into it. Others just rebuild and think nothing more about it, beyond the reality it all gone. Emptiness of, or is it the entire world. Do we have to pull up those bootstraps and begin again, or is there relief and hope beyond destruction. What had people thought of after Noah day as the flood waters completely receded, and the generation that came after the flood and they found trinkets, bowls, glassware and such. Maybe items they never seen when they dug, or ran into a cave with things within, hidden in the sand or earth. How modern was the world before Noah, for Noah built a giantic ship, that took an 100 years to build. Our mind frame truly not intuned to God's destructive nature or his build back better design. None of us truly grasping God with us and God against us, without the flood.

A tree fell in my yard after a storm this past week, leaving branches still attached to the root, around the main trunk. It more of a huge bush tree then something like oak tree or a pine. It has been there for years over ten ft tall. So the other branches growing up from the root remain and the center of it total gone when it fell. I pretty sure the way the stump looked the wind twisted the center core and it was no longer strong enough to take the abuse of the wind because it was rotting at the core of the tree, but was not totally dead. Other branches still springing with life, but it too is old. Truly needs to be just cut down once more. Despite the core structure was destroyed the tree will spring forth life from other branches coming from the root of the tree. Life and destruction is like that. Main infrasture might be destroyed, but what remains still can produce life. As NATO alliance seem to be reforming, watching and wondering what all this is about completely. I knew President Trump had pulled out our nation, but NATO it seems to be coming back together. Point is the root principal intact with all these other towers of government. I don't know. Is it like my bushtree that needed the base cut down.

Silver and gold was important for prestige, to governments round the world for centuries. We can not imagine trade in countries without agreements, or gold and silver. Silver and gold is a main core to world trade. Realy gold or money numbers on paper with nothing truly tangible asset. Scary in our modern world and technology all based on the number game and what we hope is fair deal on all sides. Man will always trade for what they feel is valuable or sellable no matter where we live. Total destruction to come we can not even imagine it. However trade and commerce will always exist, and the the need of wealth exist in our world.

Today several years after the major part of the pandemic as the world knows it at this time, I still find items missing in stores. Looking for contact paper at lowes, they use to have good selection of it, and now well can not find any in the store. Bolts and screws the same way at Lowes. Yet pandemic changed our commerce, but toilet paper is back on the shelf. With gas prices finally coming back down, some prices on some items are returning, but others perhaps will remain the same by greedy management at some stores. Drive through town you will see what has changed and go to the neighboring town and it has changed alot. Drove through Princeton WV, and more fast food places have immerged. Tangible items for silver and gold, the main staple of society fast food. I drove back to VA and bought fast food and died at price of my purchase. It gone up total of 12 dollars from last time I ate there. I said never again. I don't want to see the price in regular resturaunt, if it has doubled or not.

The first place these items are seen is after the flood and not before. If before the trading was perhaps without gold or silver. How much did the first handmade fur coat go for after Adam and Eve passed away, was it even still in existence, the world will never know. What about the first glass of wine barter for after the time of Noah. What did it sell for? Another thing we will not know.

What we do know is God is still there despite the disaster and God rebuilt the lives of man, some people would trust in God and others wanted nothing to do with him. Yet God in his mercy provided for his people, and his people did he care for all the days of their life, even at the time of exile, those that would trust in him. Silver and gold would be like a God for what it could buy, but it never could replace God or his handiwork. Peter and John said to a cripple man in Acts 5 silver and gold I have none but in the name of Jesus get up and walk. Peter and John had no gold or silver, but told the cripple man who Jesus was, the best gift they had was in their heart and the knowledge of the power of God.

Dear Heavenly Father, define in our life that faith is more important then silver and gold, but it was both occupation to mine gold and silver as well as a bartering tool that is still used even today. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Acts 3:6-8 KJV
6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.