Today our “group” is in Petra; we (my wife and I) are relaxing in Eilat as we have been to Petra and had no need to pay the price to go again. Petra is an amazing site and we have already heard from our folks that they are having a great time there.
When you visit Petra and guides tell you that the city was Nabatean, referring to descendents of Ishmael, sources I have read indicate that the Nabatean period of Petra, which is the truly great period of Petra’s history, did not begin until around 300 years before Christ. That fits well with the Biblical prophecies concerning Edom, the descendents of Esau.
Petra sat within the national boundaries of Edom; that is unquestioned. Many equate Petra with Bozrah, the capitol city of Edom. Obadiah’s prophecy concerns Edom, and the city he describes in v2 is Petra. The fulfillment of the prophecy came at the hands of the Babylonians. As Ezekiel pointed out, Edom had salivated over taking the “land of milk and honey” (Judah) after the Babylonians finished their destruction of Jerusalem. But God would not allow that. Even as He would not allow Israel to take any of Edom’s land as they journeyed through the wilderness on their way to enter the Promised Land, so He would be faithful to Abraham, Isaac and Ishmael and not allow Edom to take what was not his.
Edom truly became a small entity, a despised nation. By Jesus’ time what was left of Edom had moved to the southern part of the lowlands of Israel, had been forced to accept Judaism, and were now a despised people. Herod the Great was an Idumean, one of those despised ones.
Another intriguing part of the history of Petra is apparently still future. Isa. 63:1ff indicates the Messiah will come to Jerusalem from the region of Edom. He will be bloody because of His fight against the nations. Many believe that the saved nation of Israel is protected by God in this wilderness area of Petra (Rev. 12:13-17). Thus the Messiah would be coming from His battle to protect Israel.
Edom is, in some ways, the evidence of God’s faithfulness to fulfill promises of judgment, even as Jacob/Israel is the evidence of God’s faithfulness to fulfill promises of goodness to His people. Israel is, of course, also evidence of God’s faithfulness to fulfill His promises of chastening His people.
We again encourage you to check out our Facebook page (RonCindy Youde) for photos of Israel.
No comments:
Post a Comment