Page 57 - Advanced Bible Geography ebook

Chapter 7: Israel in and after the Time of Christ

Connect…

God promised Israel that they would have a Land and be a nation again. Of course, during Jesus’s short
visit on earth, Israel was controlled by Rome. For almost 2000 years, the Jews have been visitors in
other lands and have not had a place they could call home. But in 1948 Israel declared itself a free
nation, and with much struggle, is now a free and independent country. They have been attacked over
and over again, but so far God has blessed them to repel their enemies and even take their land. The
Bible is true. Those who bless Israel will be blessed. Today we want to see how God has moved in
history to bring the country of Israel to where it is today. Let’s get started…

Objectives…

1. The student should be able to explain how God directed historical events to bring the Jews back to
the Promised Land given them as a promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

2. The student should be able to describe the courage of those Jewish zealots who took control of
Masada during the Jewish revolt with Rome.

3. The student should be able to describe how God has blessed Israel today in so many ways.

The Lesson ...

Israel in and after the Time of Christ

Jesus was born in Bethlehem around 4 BC. Having
been warned in a dream, Joseph took Mary and Jesus
to Egypt, escaping Bethlehem before Herod’s troops
killed the infant boys of Bethlehem and the
surrounding villages. Herod the Great died shortly after
this incident.

When it seemed safe to return, Joseph and Mary began
their journey back to Israel. On the very long walk
home, they must have been discussing where they
should live, for both Bethlehem and Nazareth were
options for them.
From the Nile River, Mary and Joseph would have faced
a 250-mile walk to Bethlehem. It was more than 300 miles
to Nazareth.

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