LACHISH
He besieged the city. Then he had the siege carved into his own palace wall, in stone, with his name attached. Twenty-six centuries later, archaeologists dug up the city he was bragging about — and found it exactly where he said it was.
In 701 BC, the Assyrian king Sennacherib marched against the kingdom of Judah. The Bible describes it in three separate places — 2 Kings 18–19, 2 Chronicles 32, and Isaiah 36–37 — during the reign of King Hezekiah. One of the cities he attacked was Lachish, Judah's second most important city after Jerusalem.
Sennacherib didn't just conquer Lachish. He was proud enough of it to commission an enormous series of stone relief panels depicting the siege in vivid detail, and installed them in his own palace at Nineveh. They show archers, siege engines, a massive ramp built against the city wall, defenders on the ramparts, and rows of captives being led away. An inscription beside the panels records Sennacherib reviewing the plunder of Lachish in person.
Archaeologists excavating Tel Lachish in Israel — across decades of work by Starkey, Aharoni, Ussishkin, and Garfinkel — found the physical siege ramp still standing, built from roughly 20,000 tons of stone. They found a destruction layer of ash and collapsed walls dated to the same period. They found arrowheads, sling stones, and a chain believed to belong to one of the battering rams shown on the Nineveh reliefs.
This is not a case of faith filling in gaps where evidence is silent. This is a Judean city, a Judean king, and an Assyrian campaign attested independently in Hebrew scripture, in Assyrian royal inscriptions, in a palace relief carved by the victors, and in the ground itself. The relief shows a ramp. The excavation found the ramp. The Bible says the city fell. The archaeology shows it burned.
The Bible is not describing a mythical world disconnected from history. It places its people, kings, cities, and battles in a real geographical and historical setting — and Lachish is one of the places where those claims can still be walked on, dug into, and verified today.
#Lachish #BiblicalArchaeology #Sennacherib #Hezekiah #ChurchHistory

THE GOD WHO WALKS IN HISTORY
Thesis: The God who reveals Himself in Scripture also reveals Himself in the soil, stones, and civilizations of history. Faith is not blind; it is anchored in time, space, culture, and material reality.
SECTION 1 THE GOD WHO STEPS INTO HISTORY
Texts: Luke 1:1–4; John 1:14; 2 Peter 1:16 Doctrines: Incarnation, Revelation
Luke writes with the meticulous care of a historian, John speaks as a firsthand witness, and Peter writes as a man who saw Christ's glory and majesty with his own eyes. Christianity is not built on myth, speculative theories, or symbolic folklore; it is firmly anchored in concrete moments, specific places, real people, and verifiable historical events. Biblical faith is rooted in time, space, culture, and material reality.
Archaeology amplifies and illuminates this truth. While archaeology cannot create faith or prove divine inspiration, it bridges faith and historical inquiry by excavating, deciphering, and evaluating ancient material records. It demonstrates that biblical narratives are historically reliable, connecting sacred Scripture to the real world of ancient civilizations and providing material evidence that grounds divine revelation.
The Tel Dan Stele stands as a stone‑carved testimony that King David was not a legend, myth, or literary invention. Discovered in 1993 in northern Israel, this basalt victory monument commissioned by Hazael of Aram-Damascus contains the Paleo-Hebrew inscription Beit David ("House of David"). Written by a pagan king and bitter enemy of Israel, it provides an unshakeable external confirmation of David's historical existence, dynasty, and lasting impact.
In similar fashion, the Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered between 1947 and 1956 in caves along the Dead Sea shore, testify that the Scriptures were preserved with astonishing accuracy across generations. Containing biblical manuscripts over 1,000 years older than any previously known Hebrew texts—most notably the complete Great Isaiah Scroll—the scrolls demonstrate the faithful transmission and historical trustworthiness of God's Word across centuries.
Illustration: A man once told me, “I don't believe anything I can't touch.” I handed him a pottery shard from Galilee and said, “Then touch the world Jesus walked in.” He broke.
This moment illustrates how material evidence grounds divine revelation. The shores of the Sea of Galilee served as the floorboards of Jesus' classroom, where He ministered in real fishing villages like Capernaum and Magdala. Excavations in these towns have uncovered first-century synagogues, black basalt foundations, ancient homes, and fishing tools that directly reflect the Gospel accounts. Such artifacts and pottery shards demonstrate that the Incarnation is not an abstract theory or myth; the Word became flesh, breathed the air of a fishing village, walked on specific floors, and occupied the same physical world we do. By bridging faith and historical inquiry, archaeology confirms that biblical faith is firmly anchored in time, space, culture, and material reality.
SECTION 2 — SCRIPTURE’S RELIABILITY THROUGH ARCHAEOLOGY
Texts: Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 5:18; Psalm 119:89 Doctrine: Biblical inspiration
Archaeology does not create faith it illuminates faith.
The Lachish Letters
Written during the critical moments of the Babylonian invasion described in the prophetic book of Jeremiah, these military ostraca capture the immense fear, pressing urgency, and real-time collapse of Judah.
One notable message vividly records the military outpost's dire situation: “We are watching for the signals of Lachish… but we cannot see Azekah.”
As Jeremiah describes a nation enduring a catastrophic siege, the physical soil and artifacts of Lachish tangibly preserve the frantic final communications and authentic voices of its ancient defenders.
Other confirmations
Numerous other archaeological discoveries provide historical grounding for biblical accounts. For example, the Pool of Bethesda was excavated and uncovered precisely as described in John 5. Similarly, the powerful Hittite Empire—a civilization once dismissed by critics as mere literary fiction—is now fully documented through extensive historical records and material evidence.
Illustration: Archaeology acts as a floodlight. It does not create faith out of nothing, but rather illuminates the historic reality that was present all along, allowing us to see the historical record clearly.
SECTION 3 — THE WORLD OF THE PATRIARCHS
Texts: Genesis 12; Genesis 15; Hebrews 11:8–12 Doctrine: Covenant theology
Abraham lived in a world of law, covenant, and custom, deeply embedded in the cultural and legal frameworks of the ancient Near East. Surrounding civilizations possessed sophisticated legal traditions—such as the Code of Ur-Nammu, the Code of Hammurabi, and Hittite laws—demonstrating that codified law and covenantal structures were widespread during the second millennium BC.
The 15th-century BC Nuzi Tablets provide abundant cultural confirmation of Genesis, revealing adoption practices identical to Abraham’s heir dilemma where childless couples could adopt a servant as an heir—precisely mirroring Abraham's arrangement with Eliezer (Genesis 15:3). Nuzi documents also detail surrogate motherhood provisions requiring barren wives to provide servant girls to their husbands (matching Sarah and Hagar in Genesis 16:2) and document negotiable birthright transactions similar to Jacob and Esau.
Similarly, the 19th-century BC Mari Letters—a collection of 20,000 tablets—describe nomadic migrations, tribal movements, and Northwest Semitic customs that directly mirror Genesis. These texts contain name patterns specifically current in Mesopotamia during this period, including names closely matching Serug, Nahor, Terah, Abraham, and Jacob. Additionally, the contemporary Alalakh Texts further illuminate the authentic family and legal practices reflected throughout the patriarchal narratives.
God’s covenant was not communicated in a cultural vacuum; it was spoken into a real society with real expectations, authentic legal customs, and verifiable historical settings.
Illustration: A footprint in clay proves someone walked there. Genesis is full of footprints.
SECTION 4 EXODUS: THE GOD WHO LIBERATES
Texts: Exodus 3; Exodus 12; Psalm 77:14 Doctrine: Redemption
The Exodus is not a fairy tale. It is God confronting the Egyptian empire.
Egyptian records confirm Semitic populations resided in the Delta. The Merneptah Stele declares “Israel is laid waste,” providing early extra-biblical confirmation of Israel’s presence in Canaan. Furthermore, satellite technology using infrared sensors has detected ancient trails and heat patterns left in desert sands made by large groups leaving the Nile Delta along the Suez coast, mirroring the biblical route.
Archaeological excavations at Tell el-Kharouba in northern Sinai revealed a massive Egyptian military fortress guarding "The Way of Horus". This heavily fortified coastal highway explains why God redirected Israel through the wilderness—as recorded in Exodus 13:17–18—sparing a newly liberated population from encountering seasoned Egyptian military garrisons.
In Canaan, Late Bronze Age cities show sudden collapses consistent with Joshua’s conquest. At Jericho, archaeological excavations revealed massive fortifications featuring 4.6-meter stone retaining walls topped by mud-brick walls 1.8 meters thick. The collapsed mud-brick walls fell outward to form natural ramps for attackers at the wall base, while a massive 9-meter ash layer attests to fierce, intense destruction by fire. Jars of stored grain further indicate a brief siege before the city fell, exactly matching the biblical account in Joshua.
At Ai, traditional identification with et-Tell presented problems because that site was not occupied during Joshua's time. However, candidate sites such as Khirbet el-Maqatir show evidence of a 15th-century BC fortress that fits all biblical requirements, offering a promising resolution to long-standing geographical and chronological debates.
At Hazor—explicitly described as the "head of all those kingdoms" in Joshua 11:10 and noted uniquely in the 14th-century Egyptian Amarna Letters with a ruler titled "king"—excavations uncovered city walls over 7 meters wide, a massive conflagration layer, and evidence of sudden, violent destruction by fire dated to approximately 1400 BC.
Illustration: A chain breaks only when something stronger pulls against it. God pulled. The physical collapse of ancient Canaanite fortifications bears silent witness to divine intervention in human history.
SECTION 5 — THE KINGDOM ERA: GOD’S RULE IN REAL TIME
Texts: 1 Samuel 8; 2 Samuel 7; Psalm 2 Doctrine: Kingship
Israel’s monarchy unfolded in the same geopolitical world we excavate today.
The Karnak relief records Shishak’s campaign. Samaria ostraca reveals taxation systems matching Scripture. The Babylonian Chronicles align with 2 Kings and Jeremiah.
In 701 BCE, facing the imminent threat of Assyrian invasion, King Hezekiah secured Jerusalem’s water supply by redirecting the Gihon Spring—Jerusalem’s only permanent water source—through a 1,750-foot tunnel carved through solid rock, directly confirming 2 Chronicles 32:30. When Assyrian king Sennacherib boasted of shutting up Hezekiah "like a bird in a cage," he underestimated a king who had secured the city's lifeblood so that invading armies would not find water.
Inside the tunnel, the Siloam Inscription documents this extraordinary engineering achievement, describing how two teams of stonecutters guided by the sound of their axes carved through rock from opposite directions until meeting in the middle. This discovery validates the strategic preparations detailed in Scripture, demonstrating that Hezekiah did not simply pray and wait, but prayed and prepared by taking decisive action in obedience.
Illustration: History is God’s canvas. Kings rise and fall — the Artist remains. Faith does not wait for crisis; faith prepares for victory. Hezekiah dug a tunnel before the enemy arrived.
SECTION 6 — JESUS IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME
Texts: Galatians 4:4; Luke 4:31–37; John 19:16 Doctrine: Christology
Jesus entered a world we can still touch. The Incarnation means the Word became flesh and dwelt in real geographical spaces, walking on physical stones and breathing the air of first-century Judea and Galilee.
At Capernaum—known as Jesus' "own city"—excavations uncovered the black basalt foundations of the very synagogue where He taught, along with an octagonal church built over a humble first-century home identified as the House of Peter. Nearby at Magdala, archaeologists discovered a first-century synagogue featuring the "Magdala Stone," which depicts the Second Temple and its Menorah, as well as fishing tools and home structures consistent with the Gospel accounts.
In addition, first-century burial practices and ornate limestone ossuaries confirm names common to Jesus' era, including the ossuary of High Priest Caiaphas inscribed "Yehosef bar Qayafa". In 1961 at Caesarea Maritima, archaeologists discovered the Pilate Stone—a limestone block explicitly inscribed "Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judea"—verifying the exact historical title and identity of the Roman governor who presided over Jesus' trial. Excavations in Nazareth further confirm authentic first-century settlement patterns, establishing that the narrative of Christ is deeply anchored in real time, space, and history.
Illustration: Walk the streets of Capernaum today and you walk where Jesus walked. Faith becomes sight.
SECTION 7 — THE RESURRECTION: THEOLOGY MEETS TANGIBLE REALITY
Texts: 1 Corinthians 15; Matthew 28; Romans 6:4 Doctrine: Resurrection theology
The resurrection was proclaimed in a culture that understood death intimately. Second Temple Jewish burial customs involved precise two-stage practices, where bodies were laid in rock-cut tombs before bones were placed in limestone ossuaries. Excavations throughout Jerusalem reveal tombs featuring burial niches and rolling stone tracks that directly mirror the Gospel accounts. For example, the discovery of the ornate limestone ossuary inscribed "Yehosef bar Qayafa" (Joseph, son of Caiaphas) confirms the historical reality of the high priest who presided over Jesus' trial and demonstrates the authenticity of first-century Judean burial traditions.
Furthermore, physical evidence such as the heel bone of Yehohanan—pierced by a seven-inch iron nail—forensically confirms Roman crucifixion mechanics and subsequent proper burial in Jerusalem during this era. Excavations beneath the Church of the Holy Sepulchre complex have also uncovered a first-century limestone quarry transformed into a working garden outside the ancient city walls, containing a rock-cut tomb matching the exact geographical and architectural setting described in John's Gospel.
Ossuaries and funerary traditions reflect a deeply ingrained belief in bodily resurrection, while subterranean catacombs, sacred symbols, and early Christian inscriptions boldly proclaim, “He is risen”. While archaeology cannot measure the supernatural moment of resurrection, the physical record—from excavated gardens to empty tombs—demonstrates that the Gospel narrative is anchored in tangible historical reality.
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Illustration: A seed buried in the ground does not stay dead. Neither did the Son of God.
SECTION 8 — CLOSING MOVEMENT: “THE STONES CRY OUT”
Texts: Luke 19:40; Psalm 78:4; Hebrews 13:8
SECTION 8 — CLOSING MOVEMENT: “THE STONES CRY OUT”
Texts: Luke 19:40; Psalm 78:4; Hebrews 13:8 Doctrine: Faithfulness of God
Scripture is inherently trustworthy because God Himself is faithful. While archaeology is not the primary foundation of faith, it serves as a powerful, unbiased witness to the historical reality of divine revelation. The archaeological record does not invent spiritual truth; rather, it shines a floodlight on the physical setting of redemption, confirming that God acted directly within human history.
When Jesus declared in Luke 19:40 that the very stones would cry out, He testified to a reality that echoes through centuries of excavation. From the basalt of the Tel Dan Stele to the rock walls of Hezekiah’s Tunnel, physical artifacts continuously affirm the biblical narrative. As Psalm 78:4 urges believers to tell the glorious deeds of the Lord to the next generation, material discoveries serve as tangible evidence that can be passed down across ages.
The stones cry out from ancient city ruins. The scrolls cry out from the caves of Qumran. The inscriptions cry out from military ostraca, royal stelae, and Roman limestone. History itself cries out in unison.
And they all proclaim the exact same eternal truth: Jesus Christ is Lord. Yesterday, today, and forever. Just as Hebrews 13:8 affirms His unchanging character, the historical record testifies that the God who acted in centuries past remains the faithful Lord of today and eternity.
Final Illustration: Archaeologists brush away layers of dust and debris from ancient ruins to reveal the historical truth beneath. In the exact same way, God brushes away the guilt, darkness, and decay of sin to reveal the glorious, living presence of Christ in the human heart.

A strong case can be made that Amenhotep II fits best as the Pharaoh of the Exodus when the Bible is read in a straightforward way. Many scholars who use this timeline place the Exodus around 1446 BC. That date lines up naturally with the time Amenhotep II ruled Egypt, without needing to adjust the biblical account or stretch the timeline.
One important detail in the Bible is that during the final plague in Egypt, the firstborn sons died. In the traditional line of Pharaohs, the throne normally passed from father to firstborn son. But in the case of Amenhotep II, his firstborn son did not take the throne after him. Instead, the succession appears disrupted. While this alone is not absolute proof, it is consistent with what the Exodus account describes.
Another key part of the timeline involves Moses himself. The Bible says Moses fled Egypt and lived in Midian for about 40 years before returning. It also says the Pharaoh who originally wanted to kill him died during that time. This detail fits well with Pharaoh Thutmose III, who ruled Egypt for over 40 years. In this view, Moses would have fled during Thutmose III’s reign, stayed in Midian for decades, and only returned after his death. He would then have confronted the next Pharaoh—Amenhotep II. This sequence matches the biblical story in a straightforward way without needing to adjust the timing.
The physical evidence from the mummies of Amenhotep II and his son provides another compelling link. Both bodies show evidence of unusual skin lesions and boils, which mirror the Sixth Plague described in the Bible as "festering boils" that broke out across Egypt. While mainstream researchers often view these as common skin conditions, it is highly significant that these specific markings appear on the very Pharaoh and heir who fit the Exodus timeline. When added to the other evidence, these physical signs serve as a visible connection to the plagues that the biblical account says devastated the land.
On the other hand, many people associate the Exodus with Ramesses II simply because the Bible mentions a city called “Raamses.” However, this is likely a case of the Bible using an updated place name that was more familiar to later readers, rather than a chronological marker for the Pharaoh himself. We see this exact pattern elsewhere in Scripture; for example, the Book of Joshua refers to the city of “Lachish,” even though that name wasn't actually given to the city until much later. Just as the Bible used the name Lachish to help later readers identify a location, it likely used “Raamses” to describe the region where the Israelites lived. This theory faces further problems when looking at the physical evidence: while the mummy of Amenhotep II shows the unusual skin boils consistent with the Sixth Plague, the mummy of Ramesses II shows no such markings. Furthermore, the reign of Ramesses’ father, Seti I, was far too short to accommodate Moses’ 40 years in Midian, creating a level of chronological tension that the Amenhotep II model simply doesn't have.
When all of this is considered together—the death of the firstborn, the broken line of succession, the timing of Moses’ exile, the long reign of Thutmose III, and the debated physical observations—the Amenhotep II view fits the biblical timeline in a simple and consistent way. It follows the story as it is written without needing to reshape it to match later assumptions

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SUNDAY APRIL 12TH 2026

TOPIC: REVERSING TIME

MEMORISE:
And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: - (Daniel 2:21)

BIBLE READING: JOSHUA 10:1-14 (KJV)

1 Now it came to pass, when Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;

2 That they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty.

3 Wherefore Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying,

4 Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon: for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.

5 Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it.

6 And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us.

7 So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour.

8 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.

9 Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.

10 And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Beth-horon, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.

11 And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Beth-horon, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.

12 Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.

13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.

14 And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.

MESSAGE:
God controls times and seasons, as we see in today's memory verse. As I mentioned yesterday, He is Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending (Revelation 1:8). This means that He is in charge of the past, present, and future. If He wants, He can stop time like He did in today's Bible reading, where He stopped the sun from setting. God is Almighty, and He can reverse the effect of time on a person or situation.

Many years ago, as I approached my 60th birthday, I became concerned that I was growing old, and it seemed like I was still very far from completing the assignment that God had given me. My children were really excited as they wanted to celebrate my 60th birthday with me; however, I was groaning and crying to God in prayers. I still remember the spot where I was, around 2am one morning, praying and asking Him for help. I told Him that I still had so much to do, and the sun seemed to be setting on my life already. God responded, saying, "Son, I decide when the sun sets." Those words completely put my heart at rest. As you are reading this, I pray that the Lord will prove Himself mighty in your life.

In Isaiah 38:1-8, Prophet Isaiah told King Hezekiah that God would heal him and add 15 years to his time on earth. He also told him that God would give him a sign to prove this to him:

Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down. - (Isaiah 38:8)

Beloved, God can bring something from your past into your present. He can bring an opportunity that you think you have lost forever back to you. In Genesis 18:9-14, when God said to Abraham, "Tell your wife that she will have a son," Sarah laughed. She laughed because it was humanly impossible for a woman of her age to conceive a child. However, God rebuked her and made her realise that He can restore what seems to be gone forever. I pray for you today that God will reverse time for your sake, and every good opportunity that seems to have been lost forever will be restored to you, in Jesus' name.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please reverse time for my sake and restore all the good opportunities that I have lost, in Jesus' name.

AUTHOR PASTOR E A ADEBOYE

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 KINGS 8-9

HYMNAL: 27 WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS

Micah 1:

"1 The word of the LORD that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.
2 Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord GOD be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.
3 For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth.
4 And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place.
5 For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? is it not Samaria? and what are the high places of Judah? are they not Jerusalem?
6 Therefore I will make Samaria as an heap of the field, and as plantings of a vineyard: and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and I will discover the foundations thereof.
7 And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires thereof shall be burned with the fire, and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate: for she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, and they shall return to the hire of an harlot.
8 Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped* and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls*.
9 For her wound is incurable; for it is come unto Judah; he is come unto the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem.
10 Declare ye it not at Gath, weep ye not at all: in the house of Aphrah roll thyself in the dust.
11 Pass ye away, thou inhabitant of Saphir, having thy shame naked: the inhabitant of Zaanan came not forth in the mourning of Bethezel; he shall receive of you his standing.
12 For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good: but evil came down from the LORD unto the gate of Jerusalem.
13 O thou inhabitant of Lachish, bind the chariot to the swift beast: she is the beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion: for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee.
14 Therefore shalt thou give presents to Moreshethgath: the houses of Achzib shall be a lie to the kings of Israel.
15 Yet will I bring an heir unto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah: he shall come unto Adullam the glory of Israel.
16 Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee."

Micah 1:1-15 (NRSV)
The word of the LORD that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.
Hear, you peoples, all of you; listen, O earth, and all that is in it; and let the Lord GOD be a witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.
For lo, the LORD is coming out of his place, and will come down and tread upon the high places of the earth.
Then the mountains will melt under him and the valleys will burst open, like wax near the fire, like waters poured down a steep place.
All this is for the transgression of Jacob and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? And what is the high place of Judah? Is it not Jerusalem?
Therefore I will make Samaria a heap in the open country, a place for planting vineyards. I will pour down her stones into the valley, and uncover her foundations.
All her images shall be beaten to pieces, all her wages shall be burned with fire, and all her idols I will lay waste; for as the wages of a prostitute she gathered them, and as the wages of a prostitute they shall again be used.
For this I will lament and wail; I will go barefoot and naked; I will make lamentation like the jackals, and mourning like the ostriches.
For her wound is incurable. It has come to Judah; it has reached to the gate of my people, to Jerusalem.
Tell it not in Gath, weep not at all; in Beth-leaphrah roll yourselves in the dust.
Pass on your way, inhabitants of Shaphir, in nakedness and shame; the inhabitants of Zaanan do not come forth; Beth-ezel is wailing and shall remove its support from you.
For the inhabitants of Maroth wait anxiously for good, yet disaster has come down from the LORD to the gate of Jerusalem.
Harness the steeds to the chariots, inhabitants of Lachish; it was the beginning of sin to daughter Zion, for in you were found the transgressions of Israel.
Therefore you shall give parting gifts to Moresheth-gath; the houses of Achzib shall be a deception to the kings of Israel.
I will again bring a conqueror upon you, inhabitants of Mareshah; the glory of Israel shall come to Adullam.

AMAZING FACTS
Daily Devotionals


Preserved Forever.

February 16th, 2026

Imagine brushing away dirt from an ancient piece of pottery and finding an inscription that mentions the name of a Bible character whose existence has been questioned by critics of the Bible. Archaeology has repeatedly affirmed the historical reliability of God’s Word even though some scholars argue that the record of the Bible cannot be trusted.

One of the earliest archaeological finds relating to the Bible is a large, black basalt rock called the Moabite Stone. Discovered in 1868, this three- foot-three-inch tall stele commemorates the successful revolt of the king of Moab against Israelite control. It provides information not explained in the Bible about the role of Omri (1 Kings 16:21–28) in regaining control over this kingdom.

In 1935, James Starkey discovered 21 ostraca (fragments of clay pottery with writing) in excavations at Lachish, a city in the lowland of Judah. They were a series of letters written during the time of Nebuchadnezzar’s sieges and indicate the writer’s hopes for help from Egypt. The Lachish letters provide some of the last words of Judah as it tried to survive the attacks of Babylon. The city finally fell, as did Jerusalem.

One of the greatest manuscript discoveries that affirms the accuracy of the Bible was the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1948. They date back a century before the time of Jesus and contain all of the Old Testament books (except Esther). Compared to later manuscripts, they show the incredible preservation of the biblical text.

Historical artifacts have proven many times over that the Bible is accurate and true. Manuscript evidence supporting the Bible has also shown the Scriptures to be the best-documented book in the ancient world.

Apply It:

Read or watch an account of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and learn how these manuscripts affirm the careful transmission of the Bible through the ages.

Dig Deeper:

Jeremiah 34:1–7; John 7:17; 2 Timothy 2:15