Sermon 03.14.10 - "The Stones Cry Out" Part 1

Introduction

It was great having Dr. Douglas Jacoby with us last Sunday. I heard so many comments about how encouraging it was to hear how archaeological discoveries have impacted our understanding of the Bible. The reality is that our faith is based on events that occurred between 20 -35 centuries ago! We can’t go back there ourselves and personally confirm that the people and events of the Bible actually took place. So how can we know that our faith is based on reality, and not fiction, fairy-tales and fables? How can we know that Abraham or David or Isaiah existed, that there was a nation known as Israel or that Jesus walked its roads and preached to its people?

And why do we need to know? Does it really matter? Read Luke 1:1-4. We need to know the “certainty of the things we’ve been taught.” The more certainly you know that what you've been taught about God, Jesus and the Bible is true, the more confident and motivated you will be in your Christian life. Anything that confirms our faith in the words written by Nehemiah or Amos or Luke or Paul strengthens our faith.

Read Philippians 1:7. The gospel needs to be defended and confirmed. Many are they who would say that the Bible is just a collection of myth, fables and fairy tales. Atheists and other critics who attack the veracity of the scriptures abound (e.g., Richard Dawkins and his book "The God Delusion"). We need more Christians, who like Dr. Jacoby, can stand up publicly to defend and confirm the gospel.

But every Christian needs to be able to defend and confirm the gospel. Read 1 Peter 3:15. People who are sincerely seeking to know God have some honest questions to ask us. They want and need to know not only WHAT we believe, but WHY we believe it. God calls on each of us to do our best to have some answers. How would you feel as one who was seeking God, if you asked a question of a Christian such as, “Why do you believe Jesus rose from the dead?” and then you go the answer, “I just decided to believe it”? That could end your search right there as you concluded that there isn’t any evidence; it’s a fable or a fairy tale.

I did a little poll with the church after Dr. Jacoby's presentations. The results? Over 90% of those responding wanted to learn more about how archaeology has impacted our understanding of the Biblical text. Dr. Jacoby did a very broad overview last week; I want to get more specific. But first, I want to remind you what Dr. Jacoby said last week about the limits of archaeology.
First, at this time there is no archaeological evidence to confirm anything in Genesis 1-11: the creation account, Adam & Eve, the garden of Eden, Noah and his ark or the tower of Babel. Second, even where there is archaeological evidence, it mostly serves to either “illustrate” or “confirm” but doesn’t often prove absolutely.

But that isn’t just true about the biblical account of history, but of so many ancient historical accounts. Why does archaeology not provide us with rock solid proof of everything in the bible? Because only a fraction remains, of which only a fraction has been discovered, of which only a fraction has been excavated, of which only a fraction has been examined, of which only a fraction has been reported. What we know from archaeology is only a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of what was done, made or written in the history of the world! And in spite of that reality what has been unearthed and what we do know is sometimes mindboggling and incredibly informative.

The Early History of the Israelites: Fact or Fiction?

One of the ways the minimalists have tried to undermine the integrity of the scriptures has been to question the early history of the Israelite people. Finklestein and Silberman are two minimalist scholars who have denied the historical reliability of everything from Abraham through Solomon. They say that everything in the Hebrew scriptures written about these events was written after the Israelites were taken into captivity by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. As such they are purposely inaccurate and thus fictional accounts in order that the Israelites might create for themselves a history to give their existence meaning and their continued existence purpose. They claim that there is no external confirmation of the main individuals mentioned: Abraham, Joseph, Moses, any of the judges, Saul, David or Solomon. They also claim that certain nations, peoples, cities and practices are mentioned that were not known until much later than when the OT has them existing: Philistines, Aramaeans, Chaldeans, domestication of camels, right of the first born, etc.

But what does the archaeological evidence say? Hoffmeier and Kitchen are two of many scholars who argue for the accuracy and reliability of the OT books. Of course there is no external confirmation of most individuals in the early history of Israel, (from Abraham through Solomon). Archaeological sources for this period (1500-1000 B.C.) are few and far between even for the much larger nations that existed. Therefore, it only makes sense that the history of one little family, as far as the world is concerned, would not make a significant mark so as to be mentioned in any record.

Joseph & Moses

However, while we don’t have direct evidence, we have evidence that illustrates that the history written in the OT is plausible.
Take the life of Joseph for example. We now know that population groups from Palestine lived in Egypt at the time the Bible claims that Joseph lived. Also we now know that foreigners (non-Egyptians) were known to have risen to power in Egypt, as the Bible states that Joseph did. Indeed, the account of Joseph in Egypt (Genesis 37-50) contains details that demonstrate an intimate knowledge of Egyptian culture at that time, to a degree that seems very unlikely were these writings the fictional creations of Jewish scribes who lived a thousand years later!

What about Moses and the Exodus. The places where the Israelites were said to have served the Pharaoh were known to have existed during the time period suggested. Remains of one tomb are particularly interesting at it contains scenes of laborers making bricks for Thutmose III with inscription referring to “the workers as prisoners of war from Nubia and Syria-Palestine”. Paintings from the tomb of Khnumhotep II in 1800 B.C. are of a Syro-Palestinian family migrating to Egypt.

So what does archaeology tell us about the Israelites from Abraham to Moses? While there is no direct evidence, there is consistency between the text and what we know of history for that period and thus archaeology gives credence to the Biblical account.

Does It Really Matter?

What is the relevance of all this to our daily lives? Read Luke 19:37-40. For those who can no longer speak for themselves and personally testify to the truth of God's word, God has indeed made the stones cry out that the Bible is trustworthy, that there is a God and that Jesus is his Son.

So what do we do with all this? What opportunity and responsibility does this create for those of us who call ourselves Jesus' disciples today? Is it not that we should be like the disciples we read about here, that we would joyfully praise God in many and various public ways so that everyone else will hear?

How confident are you that the Bible reliably records the lives of Abraham, Jacob, Joseph and Moses? Are you prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you about the hope you have? Are you confident enough that you can provide the answers with gentleness and respect? If not, what can you do to prepare yourself to answer the questions of people who are truly seeking after God?