Hebrews 11:10

For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

At Mt Horeb, God instructed the people of Israel about the different types of offerings. The first one mentioned in the Book of Leviticus is the ‘burnt offering’ called in the Hebrew the ’olah’ or ‘ascent’ offering. This offering is fully burnt and dedicated to God; no-one takes a piece from it like with the other offerings. This is meant to speak of total abandonment to Hashem without reservations. This is what Abraham was asked to do with Isaac on Mt Moriah, which he did with the ram provided by Adonai.

This event took place at Mt Moriah. This was the place occupied by the city of Salem where Melchizedec was king. This was the place that later on hosted the angel that was destroying Israel because David sinfully decided to take a census of the nation (2 Samuel 24). Under the instructions of Gad the prophet, David bought the place to build an altar for Adonai. We must remember at this point that God had forbidden that altars should be built in random places. The only altar to be used so far was the one in Shiloh by the Ark. This was therefore a strange command from Gad. David also knew that at some point and time, God had a place in the Land of Canaan where He would write His Name. A traditional source tells us that in order to honor both Melchizedec and Abraham, David later renamed the place to be called, ‘Yireh-Salem’, or Jerusalem meaning: ‘He will provide peace’. What a name for a city that has seen more than its share of wars and conflicts, and still waits for ‘the big one’!

Oh but He will provide peace. Like Abraham we must not stop our eyes at this imperfect world. We must seek for our true homeland; desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. That’s why Hashem is not ashamed to be called our God, for He has prepared for us a city, a city that will finally see and know peace, a peace like no other city or even country in the world has ever known or seen. Not a ‘Pax Jerusalema’ enforced type of peace, but a peace from within originated by Yeshua the Messiah: the Prince of Peace Himself. This Jerusalem is the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is the Almighty God. Abba, the Father. He has the true peace-plan and road-map to peace in Jerusalem. Yes, Jerusalem will see peace; He promised it (Hebrews 11:10,16)!