This Week's Bulletin

Renew Your Mind
The Moabite stone
Brad Harrub, Ph.D.

Is faith a "blind leap" or can one know the Bible holds all Truth? Consider another piece of evidence from the field of archaeology—the Moabite stone (also known as the Mesha Inscription). A missionary named F.A. Klein first discovered the stone in August of 1868. When he initially saw the black basalt stone, it measured approximately 3.5 feet high and 2 feet wide. Years later, Arabs decided to shatter it (possibly for profit or for retaliation) and the pieces ended up being scattered. But eventually, about two-thirds of the original stone ended up being relocated, and currently reside at the Louvre in Paris.

The written inscription on the stone provides a piece of outstanding evidence that verifies the Bible's accuracy. Mesha, the king of Moab, had the stone cut in c. 850 B.C. to relate his numerous battle conquests. In the over 30-line text (composed of approximately 260 words), Mesha mentioned that Omri was the king of Israel, just as 1 Kings 16:21-28 indicates. Furthermore, it mentions Ahab, Omri's son, in close connection with the Moabites, as does 2 Kings 3:4-6. In addition, both the stone and 2 Kings 3:4-6 list Mesha as King of Moab. Further down in the inscription, the stone records the Israelite tribe of Gad, and the Israelite God, Yahweh. Each word verifying the accuracy of the Bible!

Another important feature of the Moabite stone is the fact that it resolved a question that has remained unanswered for years. The biblical record chronicles the Moabite suppression under King David and King Solomon, and how the Moabites broke free at the beginning of the divided kingdom. However, the Bible also mentions (2 Kings 3:4) that Ahab was receiving tribute from Moab. As Alfred Hoerth has remarked: "Nowhere does the Bible state how or when Moab was reclaimed, for Ahab to be receiving such tribute. The Moabite Stone provides that information, telling, as it does, of Omri's conquest from the Moabite point of view." Taken as a whole, the Moabite stone remains one of the most impressive pieces of evidence verifying the historical accuracy of the Old Testament. We have the evidence—our faith should not be a "blind leap."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brad Harrub currently serves as the cofounder of Focus Press. In addition, he is the co-editor of Think magazine. He earned a doctorate in Anatomy and Neurobiology. He is the author or co-author of the books, Dissecting the Truth, Diamonds in the Rough, The Truth About Human Origins, Matters of Life and Death, & Investigating Christian Evidences. He was an invited speaker to the International conference on Creationism and has appeared on the television show "Origins." Brother Harrub will conduct a seminar on "Creation vs Evolution" here at Orange St. starting next Friday through Sunday.