Israel Day 3

This morning we started at the Church of The Nativity in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus.  Not to go into a deep discussion about is it really the place, but as our guide said, 'If it isn't, then you have never been closer to where he was born'.

Father Jerome square.  who is the saint who was responsible for translating the Hebrew (OT) and Greek (NT) into Latin, the language of the time.

Original mosaics dating back about 2000 years.  The smaller the tile, the older it is.  These are REALLY small.

Next up we headed to the Herodium, the resting place and home of King Herod. You might remember him as the King who sent out the order to kill all children 2 and under of the Israelites when Jesus was born, which forced Mary and Joseph to escape to Egypt.  Although a cruel man he was a shrewd politician and the region grew massively due to his reign. 

1st Century House.  Sheep and livestock lived in the basement while people lived and ate and slept on the same space, probably no bigger than our biggest bedroom. Great visual.

Arrived at our evening destination, a beautiful kibbutz located in the Golan Heights.  A kibbutz is a community of people living together for a common good.  This particular kibbutz was started in the 1960's/70's but they have had to add a capitalistic component (manufacturing and agricultural farming incomes) to support their lifestyle and community.  Really fascinating....but really nice and a beautiful location.

  PLW

Israel Day 2

Today we started out and went into the fertile Sorek Valley.  Here we find the scripture reference of Samson, who was from the Shephelah (Sorek Valley) - Judges 16.

Then we went just a bit south to a place called Azekah, found in 1 Samuel 17 and visited the valley of Elah.  This is the spot where David slew Goliath as the Philistines were attacking the Israelites on their march toward Bethlehem and then Jerusalem!

 It was said that Goliath was 9 feet 9inches tall.  

Next stop of the day was Lachish, site of a BRUTAL battle between the Israelites and the Assyrian King Sennacherib (2 Chronicles 32:9). God sends his angel of death and wipes out 185,000 Assyrians while they are camped outside laying siege to the Israelites.

Geoff, our brilliant guide.

 Finally, swung by Machpehlah, the resting place of Sarah the wife of Abraham, purchased by Abraham for a LOT of money.  Still there to this day.

What's really strange about this place is that 1/2 of the church is owned by the Israelis and the other half is owned by the Muslims.  So depending on if you are Israeli or Muslim, you enter on opposite sides and can not enter the other. More explanation needed but ask me and I'll tell you. :-)

PLW

Israel: Day 1

Sh'ma Yisrael: Adonai Eloheynu, Adonai echad! V'ahavta et Adonai Eloheyka b'khol levavkha, uv'khol naphsh'kha, uv'khol meodekha!...V'ahavta l're'akha khamokha!  D'varim 6:4-5 ; V'yikhra 19:18

Hear O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might!  And love your neighbor as yourself!  Deut. 6:4-5; Leviticus 19:18

I suppose this is a fitting re-start to my blog posts which I have unapologetically been absent on for the last two years.  The above is called the 'Sh'ma', which is a jewish prayer said at the beginning and end of every day.  

Heidi and I are celebrating our 25th anniversary in Israel with our friends, Donny and Cynthia Weld and friends from a tour group called Travel The Text (www.travelthetext.com).  

We started our day in Negev at The Wilderness of Zin (Ein Avdat) where the Israelites wondered, documented in Numbers 20 and in Exodus 17.  

Observation: God always seems to meet with people in the wilderness - think Moses, Elijah, John the Baptist, Jesus.  

Application:  God uses the wilderness to let us know that he LOVES us massively, deeply, and more intimately then anyone.

Our second stop was Tel Arad - historic buildings and civilization dating back to the early Bronz Age (2850 BC) and again in the late Iron Age (589 BC).  Picture below is a temple slightly reconstructed from that time period.

Observation: Israelites were called to worship only 1 god, the only true God. However, in addition to God, they also worshipped others. Also, in the Jewish culture, hospitality was/is a central component.  The stranger was to be protected even more than their own family when threatened.

Application: God is a jealous God and wants all our whole heart (Sh'Ma) because he wants to do great things through us.  Also,  I need to be more welcoming in my life - support the poor, champion the weak, give my life away for others.

Bedouin shepherd.  Mostly Islamic and nomadic people dating back centuries in Egypt and the middle-east. 

 Ancient wine vinyard, where we briefly lost Heidi's glasses but were found by Cynthia.  Heidi happy.

It's the end of the day, 6:00pm and the end of Sabbath.  Tonight we eat and shop! 

Sh'ma Yisrael: Adonai Eloheynu, Adonai echad! V'ahavta et Adonai Eloheyka b'khol levavkha, uv'khol naphsh'kha, uv'khol meodekha!...V'ahavta l're'akha khamokha!

PLW