We all remember the scene. Having just navigated winding tunnels, hanging cobwebs, and poisonous darts, Indiana Jones sits at the threshold of accomplishing his goal—securing a mysterious golden idol that’s long been sought by archaeologists across the world. He deftly replaces the idol with a bag of sand to offset the weight, hoping to avoid setting off the inevitable booby trap. For a moment, he smiles with satisfaction. But when the temple begins to shake and crumble around him, he turns and, hoping to avoid making the temple a tomb, rushes toward the exit. Nearly losing his famed fedora hat while dodging a twenty-foot-wide rolling boulder, Indy barely escapes the temple with his life!
Whether it’s running through the Peruvian jungle or exploring the caves of India, Indiana Jones always seems on the verge of yet another momentous discovery. Accomplished storytellers like Steven Spielberg have fashioned this iconic image of the archaeologist, who possess that adventurous spirit of discovery we’ve come to love in Indiana Jones as they investigate anything from Roman customs to biblical temple practices. But unearthing ancient treasures also involves a great deal of meticulous work in the stifling heat and the grimy dust. Finds in Bible lands can be especially exciting for Christians looking to illuminate the biblical world. Imagine the sturdy walls of Jericho crumbling before Joshua and the Israelites. Visualise the extravagant temple of Solomon standing in the holy city of Jerusalem as a testament to the power of God. Or envision Golgotha, a lonely hill that witnessed the Man of Sorrows lay down His life for our sakes.
Insight’s Archaeology Handbook brings scenes like these to life, detailing ten of the most significant and interesting finds from biblical history. As you peruse its pages, be taken back to the terrifying onslaught of the Assyrian invasion of Israel, the miraculous deliverance of the exodus, and the industrious scholars who copied the Dead Sea Scrolls. Insight’s Archaeology Handbook reveals how these events illustrate the ways God works in the world, presents a day in the life of an archaeologist, and answers one of the most basic questions for any excavator: Where to dig?
Unlike the frequency of new Indiana Jones movies, real-world archaeologists are making new discoveries all the time. While those discoveries cannot prove the fundamentals of our faith, we should be encouraged and comforted by them. So as we continue to dig deeper into the Christian life, let’s allow biblical archaeology to point us back to our faithful and gracious God.
John Adair is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and serves as a writer in the Creative Ministries Department of Insight for Living.
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