n the whole earth, there is one territory that is more precious to God than any other. He calls Israel the “apple of His eye” (Zechariah 2:8). In the whole of Israel, there is one city that is more precious to God than any other. He said, “In Jerusalem shall My Name be forever” (2 Chronicles 33:4). In Jerusalem, there is one piece of land that is more precious to God than any other. This is the Temple Mount (Mount Moriah), where Abraham was prepared to sacrifice Isaac (Gen 22), where David was told to erect an altar to the Lord (1 Chronicles 21:18) and where Solomon built the Temple of God (1 Kings 5,6, 2 Chronicles 2-7) designed by God (1 Chronicles 28:12,19). This is where God said, “My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place” (2 Chronicles 7:15).
God designed the land of Israel as the grand stage where all the bible stories would be played out. He fashioned every hill and valley, every rock and stream on this set. By seeing and walking this “grand stage”, we will be able to better understand and appreciate the bible stories. It will give us the context to understand what was important to people of the Bible, how they lived, how they related to each other, and who their friends and enemies were.