Yesterday I learned
a little bit about Babylon, today I will explore just a little more. The Babylonians were also known as the Chaldeans, and they came from the lower region of the Fertile Crescent known as Mesopotamia - which is the land that curves between the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea. This is the land where Father Abraham was born, from a town called Ur. His father was Terah, who was a 9th generation descendant of Noah from the line of Shem. For some reason, God chose Abram, to leave the land of the Chaldeans, and all his relatives, and his father’s family, to go to a land that He would show him. God promised to bless him into a great nation, who would then go on to bless other nations. Abraham traveled to the land of Canaan, as far as Shechem. Shechem is a region known as the Eastern Mediterranean; and consists of Israel, Gaza, Jordan and the West Bank, and the southern parts of Syria and Lebanon. It was in Shechem, under an Oak, in the hill country of Ephraim that Abram’s faith was marked. He built an altar and dedicated it to the Lord. Shechem became the first capital of the Kingdom of Israel - now I'm wondering "Where is Jerusalem?" After that, Abraham set up camps, to the east, west and south. I wonder, why not the north? And this makes me think of Deuteronomy 11, where Moses is in the Valley of Shechem, looking up at two mountains, one to the north and one to the south, and this is what he says, "When the Lord your God has brought you into the land you are entering to possess, you are to proclaim on Mount Gerizim the blessings, and on Mount Ebal the curses. As you know, these mountains are across the Jordan, westward, toward the setting sun, near the great trees of Moreh, in the territory of those Canaanites living in the Arabah (desert) in the vicinity of Gilgal (eastern border of Jericho). You are about to cross the Jordan to enter and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you. When you have taken it over and are living there, be sure that you obey all the decrees and laws I am setting before you today." Deuteronomy 11:29-32 I wonder... is Mount Gerizim also known as Mount Moriah - the same mountain that Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his son? Is this the mountain where Abraham's faith was rewarded? Is this the same mountain where the Israelites, who became Samaritans went to live? I can see Father Abraham denouncing the life he once owned; I can see his tears streaming down his eyes. I can see his faith filling up the space; I can see a promise extending from his lips. I can hear his heart beating like the sun; I can feel his strength shaking from his bones. I believe it's in the place that Jacob dug a well, 175 years later and he would settle there. And then we see, Joseph being sold into slavery – to save Israel from famine, and preserve the nation. And once again, hundreds of years later, Moses would renounce Egypt and lead God’s people back to the land of Canaan. And when Moses was old, God would raise up another one - Joshua would bring the blessing by leading the people across the river Jordan, and into the land of Canaan. Beneath the tree, at Jacob’s Well is where Jesus would speak to a lost, lonely and broken-hearted Samaritan woman. He extended His hand, and showed her love so that she would know she too had met the Messiah - and would be saved under His covenant. “Do not look to Mount Ebal for there is no hope to the north.” This is what I heard the Spirit saying. Lord, help me to understand what the north means.
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