Jesus was a Jew from Israel.
This June, I am asking you to go on a journey with me as I share about my trip to Israel. Let me read you a verse that came to life there.
I have recently returned from Israel, and I want to share what I learned while I was there. Under normal circumstances, I would have read that verse and focused on the death of Josiah. However, during my trip there, our guide took us to Megiddo, which sits as a very important pass in Mt Carmel. Archaeologist document twenty-six different civilization have had fortresses there. So it’s a very important spot.
However, when I stood at Megiddo and looked around, I saw rock, old castles, and I wasn’t impressed. I had to go back to the Bible and research to discover the incredible importance of this city I had never heard of.
In fact in this passage, the Assyrian king had just died. in his absence his ally, Egypt and Pharaoh Neco was gaining dominance. Megiddo, that crazy name I don’t recall ever reading, sat in a very important place on the way to Damascus. Gaining Megiddo would give him access from Egypt to Damascus. Josiah hoped to prevent that but he died in battle.
Kings 23:29 In his days Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt went up to the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates. King Josiah went to meet him, and Pharaoh Neco killed him at Megiddo, as soon as he saw him.
This taught me a very important lesson, one that you will learn when you visit there. Every city, every valley the Bible names is actually there. Skeptics will often claim they found no evidence of this city or that Biblical story, but someone digs and finds it.
I loved the town of Magdala, which was the home of Mary Magdalene. I don’t recall ever seeing that name either, but archeologists unearthed a first century synagogue there. We know Jesus preached there. How exciting to see the very stones he walked on.
I learned first hand what I already believed. The Bible is history, and the places real. We can trust the word of God because pleaces we overlook as we read the Bible. They are actdually there.
My husband joins me today to share some of his impressions. Welcome Ray.
Learn more about Israel here.
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