ARTICLES

By Stephen Faircloth

High in the Negev Desert, overlooking the canyon of En Avdat, lie the ruins of the ancient city of Avdat. Once a thriving station on the caravan routes between Petra and the Mediterranean coast, Avdat tells a remarkable story of resilience, faith, and transformation in one of the most barren regions on earth.

The Nabateans, who built Avdat, were desert traders who mastered the art of survival in dry and unforgiving landscapes. They controlled the major trade routes that carried spices, incense, and precious goods from Arabia to the Mediterranean. Though the land around them seemed lifeless, they learned how to capture and store the rare rainfall, using channels and cisterns to turn the desert into a place of life. Over time, Avdat became more than a trading post; it grew into a center of worship, culture, and community.

Even after Rome absorbed the Nabatean kingdom in the second century, Avdat flourished. The city shifted from commerce to agriculture, producing wine and tending herds in the desert valleys. Later, as Christianity spread through the region, pagan shrines gave way to churches and monasteries. By the fourth century, Avdat had become a beacon of faith in a harsh landscape.

The transformation of Avdat, from a desert outpost to a thriving settlement and later to a center of worship, offers a powerful lesson for the believer. God specializes in bringing life to barren places. Just as the Nabateans learned to collect water and cultivate fruit in the wilderness, God teaches His people to draw from the living water of His Spirit in seasons of drought and difficulty.

The prophet Isaiah captured this same truth: “I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs” (Isaiah 41:18). What seems desolate to us can become fertile ground when God’s hand is at work.

Avdat reminds us that faith does not grow best in comfort but in dependence. When we learn to trust God in our own deserts, when resources seem scarce and the journey feels long, He sustains us with living water. Our spiritual wells deepen in dry places.

Are there areas in your life that feel like a wilderness? Invite God to show you how He is working beneath the surface, bringing streams of grace even where the ground seems dry.

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.