Monday in southern Israel

We've only just begun this journey, but already I feel immersed and surrounded by this beautiful land. I'm enjoying our group; I'm powerfully blessed to be with my daughter and I'm so consumed by my God's great love for me and you. I would have never been able to anticipate it, but you experience the Bible in new ways here. There were several moments when tears filled my eyes today, not of sorrow, of grateful thanks. I put pieces together that I thought I got during Seminary.. but they are a whole lot deeper and this takes it to a whole new level. So what have we done on day two?

Our leaders, Pastor Kevin
and Pastor Danielle

We sojourned with Abraham. We investigated a temple in a ruin from the divided kingdom. We experienced the wilderness of Zin. We had a bedouin experience and some even rode camels. It was alot today, but again WOW! what I learned.

Well at Beersheva
Abes? I doubt it.

Jen and a Tamarisk
They really do cool.

We had morning devotions at Tel Beersheva and reflected there on how God's promise to Abraham put his vision on the future and the promises that would be fulfilled in future generations.  There he planted a Tamarisk tree - one of the slowest growing trees, that is amazingly cool when grown.  He'd never receive it's benefit, but by God's promise he planted for the future.  Beersheva was a home for Abraham (Gen 22) - Here he dug a well made a  covenant with thee priest Abimelech (Gen 21) Near Beersheba, God rescued Hagar (Gen 21).

Arad was a fascinating place. There was uncovered a temple with evidence of the syncretism (intermixing paganism) that brought such condemnation by the Prophets. There we delved deeper into the Covenant God made with Abraham (Gen 15) and the ancient practice of cutting a covenant and how God providing for Abraham anticipates the work of the cross where God himself will pay the penalty for our sins.


Onward to the Wilderness of Zin, the place the 12 spies entered the Promised Land.  We marched up a canyon to a gorgeous little waterfall that looked like it was coming out of the rock. The day was gorgeous, but the hike up that desert canyon was challenging and I can't  imagine God's People enduring that for 40 years. Such was the consequence of seeing the difficulties bigger than the promises of God.

Then nearby, we got to sit in a bedouin tent, sip sweet tea, and learn about hospitality of this nomadic people who also trace their lineage to Abraham.  Remember he welcomed strangers and discovered that He had opened his home to the Lord who had appeared as traveling strangers (Gen 19).  

I'm tired.  But so glad tonight that I came.  Thank you for encouraging and praying for me.