2 Chronicles 3:1
“Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.”
Construction of the temple begins. David had dreamed of for quite a while. He sought to build it, but God said, “No. Your hands have shed much blood. Your son will build the temple.” That’s a paraphrase. The chosen site is Mount Moriah. This is a significant site in Israel’s history.
The first time Mount Moriah is mentioned is with Abraham. God asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac. He set out to do so. He brought his son and some wood for a fire and set out. God told him to go to the land of Moriah. It was a three day journey. They went to the place God had designated. Abraham told the servant to stay with the donkey and he and Isaac went to the place of sacrifice.
While walking there Isaac asked where the lamb was. Abraham said that God would provide the lamb. He built an altar, put Isaac on it and raised the knife. God stopped him and acknowledged that hAbraham feared God. He looked and saw a ram stuck in the thicket. He took it and sacrificed it. Genesis 22:14 says, “And Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. ‘So to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”'”
The second time we hear about Mount Moriah is when David sinned by taking a census of the people. God punishes him and the people with a three day plague. Then God says this in 2 Samuel 24:18, ‘And that day Gad came to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.”’ A sacrifice was to be offered to make peace and worship.
Now Solomon builds the temple on this same spot. God is so amazing in how He weaves all things together. Centuries prior, this is the spot where God tested Abraham and a sacrifice was made that God provided. Next it’s the place where peace has been made, then the sacrifice. This is to be where the temple is built. Amazing.
Centuries earlier, Abraham had no idea of the significance of this place. God did. It would have been too much information for Abraham at that time. God knew. How often we want reasons. Sometimes God gives them, usually not.
Revelation 13:16,17 says, “And he causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, and he decrees that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.” John could have asked how the whole world and its economics could handle this? Prior to computers, it wasn’t possible. It’s easy now. An explanation wouldn’t have made sense. We have to trust that God knows what He’s doing. We just obey.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work that God has done from beginning to end.” God wants to build much in our lives. We have no Idea what cool things He’ll do. I’ve walked with Christ for over 40 years. Much is common about my life that I would have never guessed. My high school friends will joke about it. It’s a miracle. I can recall Him opening doors for things that were new. Public speaking was one. It terrified me earlier. It became commonplace. Beautiful things. He does this with all of us.
This is one passage of many that make us marvel at God’s knowledge and foresight. It’s a reason to praise. Lord, thank You for Your wonders. We praise You for the great things You did in the bible. We praise You for the great things You do in our lives. Thank You.