The significance of places in the Bible
This is the index to a series of blog posts on places in the Bible. They are listed as places in Israel followed by places outside Israel.
PLACES INSIDE ISRAEL
Bethlehem, God’s solution to our crises
At Bethlehem God provided a solution to a family crisis, and a national crisis and a global crisis. What about our personal crisis?
Where’s hell?The valley near Jerusalem called “Gehenna”, was a symbol of hell. People living in Jerusalem in the 1st century AD would have associated this valley with the wickedness of child sacrifice, the desolation of a garbage dump, the invasion of Judah by the Babylonians, the eternal punishment of the wicked in hell and Satan the source of all evil.
The only way to avoid hell is to listen to the message of Scripture (Lk. 16:27-31). Let’s believe that Jesus died so that we don’t have to endure its eternal suffering (Jn. 3:16).
ing Wall in Jerusalem
The story behind Zion stretches from about 3,000 years ago into the eternal future. Zion was a holy place for the Jews because that was where God dwelt. This was true for the hill of Ophel, the Temple Mount and for the city of Jerusalem. But according to the Bible, God the Holy Spirit now lives in Christians. They are said to be temples of the Holy Spirit. This means that instead of holy places, we now have holy people. Does our practice match our position? Do we respect each other as being holy?
In the coming stages of God’s plan of salvation, Zion is associated with both Christ’s earthly reign from Jerusalem and with God’s eternal reign from the new heavenly Jerusalem. Are we looking forward to this time? Does it encourage us in our Christian lives?
Massacres and miracles at Jericho
Over the centuries, many things happened at Jericho – massacres, rescues and miracles. But it was always under God’s control. Likewise, many things happen in our lives. But we can be assured that God is in control.
Let’s trust God like Joshua, and change from our ungodly ways like Rahab and Zacchaeus. Paul told the Athenians how to do this by repenting of their ungodly ways by trusting in Jesus because “He (God) has set a day when He will judge the world (at the second coming of Christ) with justice by the man (Jesus) He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him (Jesus) from the dead” (Acts 17:31).
Rebellion and deception at Samaria
Samaria was a center of disobedience and rebellion against God. The people were deceived by the leaders and the false prophets. And they suffered the consequences. But God kept the promises He made to Moses and Solomon. He said that disobedience would lead to being removed from their land. And that’s what happened.
God was patient, giving them lots of time to repent and change to obey the covenant. But in the long term, judgement comes to those who rebel against God. And in the long term, false prophets will be shown to be wrong.
Jesus reached out to the Samaritans even though they followed a corrupted version of the Pentateuch. And the apostles preached the gospel to the Samaritans and set up churches.
From these events we learn that:
– If God kept the promises He made in the Old Testament, then He will also keep the promises He makes to us in the New Testament.
– If God was patient in judging the Israelites, He will be patient in judging people today. Peter confirms this, “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Pt. 3:9).
– Let’s beware of deceivers (false teachers or false prophets) whose message isn’t consistent with that of the New Testament.
– Let’s include marginalized people in our ministries, not exclude them.
– Let’s spread the good news about Jesus to all nations and races; and not write off anyone as being unworthy of God’s love and mercy.
Worshipping God and idols at Bethel
As the main religious center of the northern kingdom, Bethel was an important town in the religious history of ancient Israel. Bethel started well because it was where people worshipped God across about 750 years between Jacob and Solomon (1680 BC to 930 BC), but it ended badly because of the gross idolatry and syncretism over about 300 years from Jeroboam to Josiah (930 BC to 640 BC).
Let’s follow the good start at Bethel by trusting in God and by continuing to worship Him. But let’s not follow Bethel’s bad finish and not let anything come between us and God.
Many battles at MegiddoDon’t be like Josiah who challenged Pharaoh as he was passing through Israel, but was killed in battle. Be careful about getting into other people’s business – “Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own” (Prov. 26:17).
And don’t fight the wrong battles. “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes” (Prov. 26:4-5). Be wise in knowing when to speak and when to be silent – there is “a time to be silent and a time to speak” (Eccl. 3:7). And in knowing when to act and when not to act. And in knowing when to confront a person or issue and when to leave the person or issue alone.
As God changed the reputation of Nazareth, He can change our lives as well. Our destiny is not necessarily limited by our circumstances or past history. Great people can have humble beginnings.
Common sayings are not necessarily true. They need to be evaluated.
Because Jesus was rejected by the Jews at Nazareth, it is not surprising that Christians are often rejected by others today.
Good times and bad times at Shechem
There were good times and bad times at Shechem. The good times were:
– God’s promise was given to Abram.
– Abram, Jacob and Joshua worshipped (made offerings) to God.
– Jacob buried their household idols.
– Jacob’s well provided water.
– The Hebrews promised to keep God’s commands.
– It was a City of Refuge.
These remind us of the goodness of God.
The bad times were:
– Before they left for Bethel, Jacob’s household still worshipped idols.
– The rape of Dinah and the revenge killing of all the men in the town. Associated with this was the danger of assimilation with the Canaanites.
– They were punished for their wickedness when 1,000 people perished in a fire.
These remind us of the sinfulness of humanity.
What else reminds you of the goodness of God and the sinfulness of humanity?
What about us? Is our behavior more like the good times or the bad times? What idols stop us worshipping the true God?
We have extra promises from God in the New Testament. But we have the same choice to obey and follow God or not. Let’s serve the Lord like Joshua. And we can choose to learn from biblical history or to ignore it.
Did you know that Jesus Christ is like a City of Refuge? The writer of Hebrew says, “we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us” (Heb. 6:18ESV). The Cities of Refuge only helped the innocent, but Jesus helps the guilty: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15). Those who trust and follow Jesus can have peace in a sinful world (Jn. 16:33; 1 Jn. 5:4-5).
Godliness and wickedness at Beersheba
At different times Beersheba was a place of communication with God, a place of wicked leaders, and a place of false worship. Let’s develop places of communication with God rather than places of false worship.
The patriarchs “called on the name of the Lord”. And we can too when we pray to God in our time of need.
Enemies and ungodliness at Gaza
Worshipping false God’s at Gaza led to God’s judgment on the Philistines. This is a warning to the ungodly today.
God used the Philistines to punish the Israelites because they turned away from Him and followed false gods. In the same way, God often uses people in our lives to get us back on track with the Lord when we stray.
God made Samson strong, but Samson made some bad decisions. He was guilty of lust and he lacked self-control and commitment. Christians have great strength though the Holy Spirit, but they also have Satan as a powerful enemy. Success can lull them into self-confidence.
Jesus is better than Samson – He was sinless and He sacrificed His life so His enemies could become His friends.
Galilee was transformed from metaphorical darkness to metaphorical light by Jesus. Galilee had been devastated by the Assyrian army, but it was honored by the ministry of the Messiah which brought joy and salvation.
Jesus is the only genuine source of spiritual light. Although the world is a dark place metaphorically, the good news about Jesus brings spiritual light. Have you begun your journey towards this light?
This metaphorical light should be evident today in the lives of Christians. If you are a Christian, are you following “the example of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1)?
Christ’s focus on Galilee shows that Christianity flourishes more amongst the common people than the elite.
PLACES OUTSIDE ISRAEL
Babylon, center of humanism and materialism
The story behind Babylon stretches from about 4,200 years ago to the coming tribulation between the rapture and the second coming of Christ. Babylon is opposite to Zion. Babylon was a wicked place (where people rebelled against God), while Zion was a holy place (where God lived).
It reminds us that:
– God kept His promises to Israel. The law said that if they disobeyed God and followed idols, they would be expelled from Palestine (Dt. 4:25-28; 28:62-65; 30:1-3). And that’s what happened. Likewise, God will keep His promises given to us in the New Testament.
– God is sovereign over all the events in human history. He is powerful (source of different languages and different nations; and caused the rise and fall of nations). And He uses who He wills to achieve His purposes. He used a pagan nation to punish Judah.
– God judged the wickedness of Babylon. Likewise, in the future God will judge all evil and wickedness.
– Apostate religion is doomed. God wants us to separate from apostate religion.
– Materialism and humanism is doomed. God wants us to separate from materialism and humanism.
The safety and dangers of Egypt
What can we learn from the role of Egypt in the history of the Israelites? They lived under the old covenant of Moses, whereas Christians live under the new covenant of Jesus.
First, God cares for His people. As He cared physically for the Israelites, so He cares spiritually for those who trust in Him through Jesus today. Their salvation is assured.
Second, God is powerful. As miracles accompanied the Israelites deliverance from Egypt (ten plagues; crossing the Red Sea), so miracles accompanied Christ’s act of salvation (Christ’s resurrection) and will accompany Christians deliverance from the presence of sin (their resurrection).
Third, God’s people needed to obey Him in order to benefit from His care and power. Obedience leads to blessing. To be delivered from Egypt the Israelites needed to obey God’s instructions given by Moses. Likewise, to be delivered from sin, we need to accept God’s gift of salvation through Jesus. Have you done this?
Fourth, disobedience and idolatry (following something or someone else than the true God) leads to God’s judgment. God wants His people to be faithful. Are idols keeping you from living for Jesus?
What can we tell the next generation about what God has done for us? That’s the best kind of family stories to tell.
Social injustice and sexual immorality in Sodom
What can we learn from what happened at Sodom?
First, God judges the ungodly. This is a solemn lesson. The Bible says that Sodom is “an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly” (2 Pt. 2:6). It’s “an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire” (Jude 7). Sodom was burnt to ashes. It shows how the Lord “holds the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment” (2 Pt. 2:9). As judgment day came for Sodom, it will come to all who reject God’s revelation to them. The wicked will be punished in hell. Few people believe this message from the Bible. Few people will read or “Like” this blogpost.
It also shows that God is a fair judge. He told Abram about His plan. And He was willing to mitigate the judgement based on Abram’s request. God is a just judge. The wickedness of Sodom had become so great that it would have been unjust of God not to judge it. And God is a merciful judge. He rescued three people from the judgment. He discriminated between the guilty and the innocent.
Jesus said that His second coming to judge unbelievers will be like what happened at Sodom, “It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all” (Lk. 17:28-29). So the destruction of Sodom is a foretaste of a day when all rebellion against God will be judged and destroyed.
What kind of people deserve to be destroyed like this? When Jesus sent out His disciples to announce the kingdom of God, if a town rejected this message then “it will be more bearable on that day (of judgment) for Sodom than for that town” (Lk. 10:12). They will be judged more severely than the city of Sodom. What kind of people deserve to be destroyed in this way? Those who have rejected God. Those who have rejected the message about Jesus in the Bible. Until we trust in what God did through Jesus Christ, we all deserve to be judged.
If you don’t trust in Jesus, then you are like those who lived in Sodom. The Bible says, “how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?” (Heb. 2:3).
Second, the godly receive God’s mercy. As God rescued Lot from Sodom, He “knows how to rescue the godly from trials” (2 Pt. 2:9). For those who love and trust Him, no matter how undeserving they are, God will do everything necessary to spare them from judgement. Believers can look forward to the inheritance of heaven (1 Pt. 1:4-5).
Third, our choices have consequences. Lot was a believer who wouldn’t separate from the sinful world (2 Pt. 2:7-8). He was a backslider who adjusted to the evils of Sodom and compromised his morals. Even his sons in law didn’t believe him. Consequently, he lost his wife, his sons-in-law, his friends, and his possessions.
Fourth, God answers our prayers. Abram was a believer who prayed for Lot. God answered this prayer by rescuing Lot before the city was destroyed. Do we pray for others? Do we realize that Jesus intercedes (prays) for us (Heb. 7:25)?
Fifth, God has revealed Himself to humanity. Abraham learnt about what God was like because God choose to reveal Himself to Abraham. We might have some ideas about what God is like, but the only way we can truly know Him is if He reveals Himself to us. Only in the Bible can we find out what God is really like.
Don’t be like Lot’s sons-in-law and his wife who didn’t escape from Sodom. Lot’s sons-in-law didn’t believe that they were accountable to God. And Lot’s wife was too attached to the sinful world.
Lot did escape from Sodom although he was reluctant. Don’t leave it too late to trust in God’s salvation through Jesus.
Let’s be like Abraham and pray for our communities, because God answers our prayers.
Outsiders became insiders at Damascus
Biblical events associated with Damascus show that the good news about Jesus is for people of all nations and not just those in the church. It can change outsiders into insiders.
The Bible teaches that there should be no racism in the church. Believers are to accept one another as they are accepted by God (Rom. 15:7).
But the destruction of Damascus indicates that there is bad news for those who don’t accept the good news about Jesus. It’s better to heed God’s warnings in the Bible, than to be judged by God.
Tyre reminds us that God keeps His promises
God fulfilled the prophecies made in the Bible about the demise of the city of Tyre. This gives us confidence that He will also fulfill other prophecies in the Bible that have not yet been fulfilled.
The people of Tyre were judged because of their pride and idolatry. These are examples of sins that God will judge unless we have trusted that Jesus has already taken the punishment of these for us.
Christians can also be proud and act independently of God, which severs their daily fellowship with God. But this can be restored when they confess and repent of their sins (1 Jn. 1:9).
Ninevah experienced God’s mercy and justice
How would people respond today if someone like Jonah urged them to repent and turn to God? That is what Israel Folau did, and he was criticized, rejected and banished. That’s how the Jewish religious leaders treated Jesus.
Who are we like, the Ninevites or the Jewish religious leaders? The repentance of the Ninevites is an example for us to follow. It also shows that God’s mercy through Jesus extends to everyone. But it’s only available to us while we are alive! Let’s access God’s mercy through Jesus today and avoid God’s coming judgment.
Updated, April 2024
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