ARTICLES

By Stephen Faircloth

At the western edge of the Jezreel Valley, beneath the slopes of Mount Carmel, lies the ancient city of Megiddo. Perched above one of the most important trade routes of the ancient world, Megiddo once guarded the crossroads connecting Egypt with Damascus and Mesopotamia. Whoever controlled this city held the key to regional power.

Archaeologists have uncovered twenty layers of settlement at Megiddo, each built upon the remains of the last. Its commanding position made it both prosperous and dangerous. Pharaohs, kings, and armies fought for control of this place. It was here that Pharaoh Thutmose III won a decisive victory in 1468 B.C., and where King Josiah of Judah fell in battle centuries later (2 Kings 23:29-30). The ground of Megiddo carries the memory of human conflict and the cost of ambition.

Megiddo was allotted to the tribe of Manasseh, though the Israelites never fully secured it. Later, Solomon fortified the city, building massive gates, stables, and storerooms. Beneath the surface, engineers carved a remarkable water system, a tunnel that connected the city to a spring outside its walls. Even in siege, the people could draw living water hidden from their enemies. Their survival depended on a source unseen by others.

This image speaks powerfully to our spiritual lives. Our strength and peace come not from what is visible, but from the hidden flow of God’s Spirit within us. Jesus said, “Whoever believes in Me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them” (John 7:38). Like the people of Megiddo, we are sustained by what God provides in secret.

The name Megiddo appears once more in Scripture, in the book of Revelation. John writes that the armies of the world will gather for battle at Armageddon (Revelation 16:16). Many assume this refers to Megiddo itself, but the Bible never mentions a Valley of Armageddon. The term likely means “the mountain of assembly,” pointing not to Megiddo’s hill, but to Jerusalem, the mountain where God has placed His name. The final conflict will not be fought in the Jezreel Valley but around the holy city, where God will establish His kingdom and bring His justice to the earth (Revelation 11:1-2; 14:20; 20:9).

Megiddo reminds us that battles and power struggles are part of history, but God’s plan is greater than any human design. His purposes reach beyond the rise and fall of nations, pointing to the day when His peace will reign forever.

When you think of Megiddo, remember the hidden spring beneath the surface, a source of life that never runs dry. In the same way, God’s Spirit is your well of strength, quietly sustaining you through every challenge. Though the world may rage around you, His living water flows within, bringing peace, purpose, and victory that cannot be shaken.

Stephen Faircloth is the President of CBN Israel, an initiative dedicated to sharing the true story of the Jewish nation and inspiring a global community of Christians to stand with Israel and support her people in need. Our vision is to reshape the global conversation about Israel by fostering understanding, hope, and healing between Jews and Christians around the world. For more than 50 years, the Christian Broadcasting Network has supported Israel. By joining CBN Israel, you become part of this enduring legacy, transforming lives today and strengthening Christian support for Israel for generations to come.