Sunday - First Day

Oh, my goodness!  What an amazing day.  I couldn't begin to tell you all I've learned or how inspirational this day has been.  It's not relaxed and easy, but is it ever worth it!
Early rise - breakfast together then a walk to the park above the beach where Pastor Danielle led devotions.  Remember we were in Tel Aviv, on the edge of Jaffa (biblical Joppa). Our devotions took a look the places Joppa is recorded - Jonah / 2 Chron 2 / Acts 10.  Linked together by an amazing theme.  It has always been God's plan that from this Land, the know-ledge of the Lord would reach people at the ends of the earth.  Jonah assigned this challenge to the Ninevites - a cruel society he hated - became the most successful prophet ever and he resented it cause he didn't share God's heart for people.  Peter, likewise had to be cajoled through a vision to take the gospel to Gentiles which God authenticated through the same signs of Pentecost.  Wow! From here, God demonstrated how much he cares for and wants to reach lost people. No barrier can be allowed to stall us.  We are the recipients of God's great love and grace and still he calls us to reach even those who we might not think worthy of His mercy.

Tell Gezer

We arrived and hiked up Gezer on the Aijalon valley (the first tough hike) where in Gideon's battle, the sun stood still.  It was one of the major fortifications erected by Solomon and we examined the six chambered gates characteristic only of Solomonic construction.  Gezer has a longer story, but I can't tell it all.  (Bummer - first archaeological tell we examine and I left my camera in the bus).  Jen took photos.

Understanding the strategy of  taking
and holding the Promised Land

Then to Beth Shemesh, Samson's hometown and where the Israelites received back the Ark of the Lord after it was taken in battle with the Philistines. Reading the text at those places, you  stand there and picture those events.  The points of the story just get driven home and they're not your typical Sunday School application.

Great picnic lunch stuffing our own pita. No hiking involved.

Above where David dealt
with Goliath

Onward to the Elah Valley, (David and Goliath) and Khirbet Qeiyafa (uffda the hike!) where very recent archaological discoveries have confirmed an important biblical site and helps verify the biblical claims of King David's governance.  There they found the oldest example of Hebrew writing which when translated, sounds amazingly like several verses in Deuteronomy.

So tonight we're in Beersheva a key place in Abraham's story (Gen 12, 21, 26).  It's a very modern large city today and we're checked in to a great hotel with a great dinner buffet. We've hiked hills that felt like mountains, we've stumbled over way too many rocks and I'm sunburned on top of it all, but we head to bed, so satisfied with our day.  Thank you God.