Day 6 - Truth Revealed
For Christians: Rededicating Ourselves to the Prayer, “Lord Help My Unbelief”
Prepare to light your 7th candle.
Last May, 2022, a rare discovery was made in the Judean Desert in Israel. A wooden box containing 15 silver coins was buried in a cave near Israel's Dead Sea around 2,200 years ago. It was discovered during excavations in the Judean Desert. Israel Antiquities Authorities (IAA) said the box contained a layer of soil hiding a purple woolen cloth that covered the coins placed in its lower part. The coins have been identified as silver tetradrachms (large silver coins originating in ancient Greece) minted between 176 and 170 BCE, under Ptolemy VI, king of Egypt. His uncle, Antiochos IV Epiphanes reigned at that time over the Seleucid Empire, which, as we’ve learned, dominated the land of Israel. One of the coins is engraved with the name "Shalmai" in Aramaic script.
Shalmai means: “Yah Envelops” or “Yah Is Recompenser” and “Peace Offering Of The Lord”. It speaks of the God Yahweh. There’s only one man named Shalmai in the Bible. Both Ezra and Nehemiah mention him as the head of a family of Nethinim (Temple servants) of which an untold number of members returned from the Babylonian exile (Ezra 2:46, Nehemiah 7:48).
According to the researchers, the man who had fled to the cave with his treasure was obviously planning to return. The value of the coins would be equivalent to around 30,000 shekels ($8,700) today. It is likely that he was killed during a battle against the Seleucid Greeks. After thorough research, archaeologists determined it is the first archaeological evidence that the caves of the Judean Desert were used as a refuge and rear base by Jewish rebels during the Maccabean revolt. Add to that, research carried out over the past six years in the Judean Desert has yielded thousands of archaeological finds which have been preserved from destruction and looting.
Never underestimate the reality that God’s word is true, including the story of the Maccabees. He was been revealing these truths through non-stop archaeological discoveries throughout Israel since they returned to their homeland in 1948. Prior to that, the land remained a desert wilderness for 2000 years. Although trampled by various empires for 2000 years through the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Mameluk’s, Ottomans and Brits, God is proving to that world His word is true. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Are you paying attention? Mind boggling archaeological discoveries have been unearthed since Israel returned to their land in 1948,
astonishing archaeologists worldwide. If you go to Israel today you will see digs taking place everywhere. God’s story is true and He is has not taken His eye off of Israel.
Take a moment and light the 7th candle. Simple question: where are you struggling with doubt about who God is?
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