One of my favorite experiences in Israel was a visit to Magdala, the town where Mary Magdalene came from. For years historians and archaeologists believed it to be near the town of Migdol along the Sea of Galilee, but were unable to find any physical evidence of its existence. Because they couldn’t find it, some doubted there ever was such a town… until 2009, when during excavation for a retreat center seven miles from Migdol, the town of Magdala was uncovered.
I was fascinated to see the foundations of a town from the days of Jesus, knowing I was literally walking on streets where He walked. But what resonated for me even more was the realization that I was walking through one further example of the accuracy of the Bible. Whether we are talking about the location of an ancient site, or a principle pertaining to our personal life, when what we think or expect does not quite jive with what the Bible says, it is not the Bible that is wrong. We just need more information or revelation to be able to uncover it, or to understand what it means.
We can trust what God’s Word says about where things took place thousands of years ago. Likewise, we can trust what it says about us today. When God says, “I will never leave you or forsake you,” (Hebrews 13:5) we can trust that. When He says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness,” (Jeremiah 31:3) we can believe it. All of His promises are true.
You can read more about the discovery of Magdala at http://www.timesofisrael.com/at-magdala-by-the-kinneret-discoveries-that-resonate-with-jews-and-christians/
