And a highway will be there;
Isaiah 35:8a
it will be called the Way of Holiness.
How many things do you own that were made in some far away land? Ships traverse the oceans, trains role along their rails, and trucks trek the interstates. The cargo container was invented half a century ago to aid shipping, mandating a standard size that can be easily loaded onto a large ship, a train, or a truck. About 17 million of these containers exist today!
While travel in the ancient world was much harder and longer, trade existed between long distances even then. Caravans traveled these great distances, bringing exotic wares to their customers. The further something traveled, the more lucrative it could be sold for. God placed the people of Israel in a strategic location along major trade routes. Such a position was a blessing when controlling the routes or a curse when invaders burst through. When you read the Bible about people moving from place to place, it’s easy to lose perspective. We can jump in a car or plane or train and quickly get anywhere. They walked. They rode camels through the wilderness. They sailed ships through dangerous waters. What was that like? Follow Abraham with his entourage to the unknown land God promised him. Watch the Queen of Sheba arrive with her caravan to meet Solomon. Quake in fear as armies invade from the north. Walk the Galilean countryside with Jesus and his disciples. Feel the sore feet of Paul as he walks thousands of miles to deliver the Gospel. Hear the splash of the waves on a ship headed to Rome.
By the first century, trade had grown even greater. Rome controlled the western world, opening new doors of opportunity. By land, they paved thousands of miles of roads. By sea, ships sailed the length of the Mediterranean or from the Red Sea to India. Rome imported grain from several areas of its empire to support its unsustainable population. The Apostle Paul sailed on a grain ship as he made his fateful voyage to Rome (Acts 27:6). Herod the Great wanted his Jewish kingdom to have a piece of the pie, prompting him to construct an immense port at Caesarea. The extent of his imports are still evident in the names stamped on his jars of wine.
South of Israel, the Nabateans established a desert trade route to the East with their capital in Petra. Towns were established along their routes, providing lodging and safety for travelers and collecting a fee for their use. Such models continued to exist after the collapse of the Roman Empire. Caravansarai were constructed along the trade routes, spread a day’s journey apart. The West has sought the treasures of the East from ancient times on down to today, whether it’s silk, spices, or smartphones.
Our modern trade is an extension of what’s been happening for thousands of years. People continue to hunt for the possessions they desire. In the midst is a little corner of the Mediterranean testifying of a God whose love is worth more than anything the greatest merchant can offer.