“Now the cistern into which Ishmael had thrown all the bodies of the men whom he had struck down, along with Gedaliah, was the large cistern that King Asa had made for defense against Baasha, king of Israel; Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with the slain. (9)
“… they took all their men and went to fight against Ishmael the son of Nethaniah. They came upon him at the great pool that is in Gibeon.” (12)
What stands out to me today is the historical nature of the Bible. Here, we see that the writer clearly intends that the reader believe these are events that happened to real people at real places, which he names. By naming specific places like the large cistern that King Asa had built or the great pool of Gibeon, the writer wants us to see these reports as both accurate and real. So what?
Understanding that these are real events experienced by real people should give us greater confidence in God’s word. It should also help us relate to the situations presented in the Bible. And it should give us greater confidence in the solutions offered in the Bible.
Interestingly, 2 days ago, I read an article about ancient Gibeon being destroyed by the Palestinians. (See https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-869181)
Father, help me believe and love your word more than I love today’s news. Amen.
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