An official of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. He set fire to the temple of the Lord, the royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem. Every important building, he burned down… he carried into exile the people who remained in the city. 2 Kings 25:9, 11
A few years ago, archaeologists in Israel discovered 2000-year-old date palm seeds in the Masada fortress on the edge of the Dead Sea. The seeds were preserved in the hot and dry conditions of the desert and had likely been there since the time of Jesus. A researcher decided to plant these seeds on a whim to see if they’d grow. Several of the seeds sprouted up from the pot, making them the oldest seeds in the world to do so. The plant began to grow so big they had to move it to a bigger pot.
In 586 BC, roughly 2500 years ago, the Babylonian army broke through the walls of Jerusalem. They ransacked the beautiful temple dedicated to the Lord, and most of the city was burned to the ground. Anyone watching would have assumed that was the end of the story of God. The temple was destroyed, the city was conquered, and the people were gone. God promised Abraham a nation with land. God promised David a King on the throne. Now there was nothing.
However, unlike their northern neighbors, the story of the people of Judah does not end in total destruction. The Babylonians kidnapped many of the inhabitants of Jerusalem and took them away to serve in Babylon. Thankfully, the people of Judah retained much of their identity while living in a foreign land. When they left Jerusalem, the people took with them their holy books, their traditions, in their dedication to the living God.
Like the 2000-year-old date palm seed, the people of God began to bide their time. Their nation was preserved in the hot dry climate of the Babylonian empire. Israel’s family tree was once like a mighty oak, but the people leaving in exile were just a small seed. Sometimes, God allows us to experience exile so that we may come back stronger than ever.
Kena Hawkins Newkirk 