History, is His story

Pastor Fred shares a devotional from Holy Land Moments, written by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein:

"Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings." Isaiah 58:12

Tel Megiddo, one of the most impressive and important archaeological sites in all Israel, is an object lesson of historical and biblical proportions. This ancient site located near the entrance of the Jezreel Valley and along antiquity’s major super highway, the Via Maris, imparts the story of 25 civilizations that are built upon the ruins of another.

The importance of Megiddo in the region is underscored by the fact that it is the only city in Israel mentioned by every great power of the ancient New East. Because of its strategic location, historians believe it was the site of more battles than any other place in history. The citizens of Megiddo, at different times in its history, battled against the various armies of Assyria, Canaan, Egypt, Greece, the Israelites, Persia, Philistine, and Rome. Even a decisive battle between English and Ottoman forces occurred near Megiddo during World War I. Most Christians know it as Armageddon — the site where the final battle between good and evil will take place.

Megiddo is also mentioned in six different books of the Hebrew Bible (what Christians refer to as the Old Testament). This is where Joshua killed the king during the conquest of the Promised Land (Joshua 12:7, 21). The city of Megiddo was allotted to the tribe of Manasseh (Joshua 17:11; 1 Chronicles 7:29). Deborah and Barak led the people of Israel to victory over Sisera and the Canaanite armies “by the waters of Megiddo” (Judges 5:19–20).

Solomon made Megiddo one of his district capitals, as well as one of his three main fortress cities of his kingdom (1 Kings 4:12; 9:15). In fact, when you visit the ruins today, you can see the vestiges of Solomon’s stables for his horses and chariots. King Josiah of Judah died in a battle near Megiddo when he tried to prevent the Egyptian pharaoh Necho’s plans to help the king of Assyria (1 Kings 23:29–30; 2 Chronicles 35:20–24).

Why is this little lesson in history important? Because it underscores that history is God’s story. These sites are not just of value to historians, but to people of faith. These ruins are testimony to biblical events and God’s intervention in human history. As the prophet Isaiah wrote, “Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations” (58:12).

We are eyewitnesses to that very prophecy as we see the nation of Israel rising from the ruins and being rebuilt as God’s people return to their homeland. Sites like Tel Megiddo help us understand that the stories and the people of the Bible are real, and that God’s story is still unfolding today.

Someday I hope to visit the Holy Land. I am sure I will be inspired by all the reminders of what I know from the Bible. Since I have not been I wanted to share something fascinating from this Rabbi that I hope will also inspire you to always think that History is really "His Story". To know things is good, but seeing them is often even better. At least we can get a mental picture of what the Bible is telling us. Not only real people, but real places too.
In His Service, Pastor Fred

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