Ward Ministry Update Christmas 2011

Here's the web-version of our latest prayer letter. If you are interested in the full story including the "Kids' Korner" update, please send me an email.

Christmas 2011 Ward Webletter

Remembering Israel - Day 1 Gezer

Before students and staff of arrived from Jeju, Korea, the Canadians took some time to prepare for their arrival and sneak away to a couple sites.

Undoubtedly the highlight of the day was Tel Gezer across a small valley from the modern kibbutz of Gezer. Gezer was one of Solomon's fortified cities, boasts 26 layers of civilization and one of the oldest Canaanite fortifications.

According to 1 Kings 9:15 Solomon fortified 3 key cities - Gezer in the South, Megiddo protecting important travel and trade routes through the Jezreel Valley, and Hazor in the North. The gates have been unearthed at each of these locations from the same time period and built to strikingly similar specifications.

Gezer

Standing inside Solomon's 6-chamber gate at Gezer

Though we did not visit Megiddo and Hazor Day 1 it is worth showing their relation to Gezer here. Seeing the Bible come to life throughout the whole land of Israel was so exciting. These three ancient cities fortified by Solomon give great support to his historicity and the Bible's accuracy!

The Welcome Center at Megiddo displayed an incredible scale model of the entire archaelogical site. The most fascinating feature of this model were the lifts which would raise certain sections of the model to reveal other levels of civilization.

Scale Model of Solomon's 6-chamber gate at Megiddo.

At Hazor the following sign described practically the exact same gate found at Solomon's other fortified cities.

Sign documenting the discovery of Solomon's 6-chamber gate

Despite denials of the Bible's accuracy, the historicity of biblical characters, and the Jewish claim to the Holy Land, the archeological evidence is mounting and leaving little room for debate. The Bible is true, accurate, and lays claim on our lives to worship the great God who has revealed Himself through the pages of His word and the annals of human history.

To catch all the Israel 2011 posts be sure to Subscribe or Follow this blog. See boxes to the right.

Or check the other posts out here:

Remembering Israel Intro

Remembering Israel Enroute - British Museum

Remembering Israel Day 2 - Jezreel Valley(coming soon)

WARNING:

Exposure to such material as pictures and testimony of the Promised Land, its geography, character, history, and beauty often creates an insatiable longing to travel and experience these things for one's self.

You have been warned!

If you would be interested in participating in a similar study trip, please contact me.

Jonathan Ward Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved

Related articles

• Discovering the largest city of ancient Canaan(via the Jerusalem Post) (thechristiangazette.wordpress.com)