Israel Day Three - Committed to the Text

Day Three – Committed to the Text

One of the most interesting things we did the whole trip happened on day two and I forgot to mention it. We visited a place called Tel Arad located in the desert of the Negev in southern Israel. Not far from here live the Bedouin people who are known for their hospitality. We walked three miles across the rocky desert to visit where they live, learned about their history, eat some bread and drank some tea they prepared for us. It was a really cool experience and a great example of hospitality. The lifestyle of the Bedouins was practiced in the Old Testament. "People in Old Testament times believed guests were sent to them from God.  Abram and Sarah prepared a meal for their guests (Gen. 18:2-8). One of the first things a host did was to offer a guest something to drink (Gen. 24:17-18) and then a meal (Gen. 26:30)" (Omar Garcia). It was a blessing to experience this. It helps give a real picture of life and practice of the Patriarchs.

Day three we had three big stops. We first went to En Gedi where we hiked the Wadi Argot. Here again we saw the Bible come to life. This is where David hid from Saul, spared his life, and where David snuck up on him and cut the corner of his shawl.  We see the heart of David and his passionate obedience to God. We also got to see first hand how God supplies water from a rock in the desert. Rather than relying on our supply of cistern water we should rely on the “Living Water” that God supplies. 

We then went to one of Harod the Great’s fortresses at Masada. He built this palace of refuge on top of a rock plateau. It was crazy and impressive to see the engineering, supplies, strategy, and luxury of that place. It was a huge hike up but awesome to see what Harod had built.

Our last stop was at Qumran. This is the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. We saw the cave where the book of Isaiah was found as well as many other caves. It was a challenging hike to the top but a great view. From the top we could see “Bethany beyond the Jordan” where John the Baptist taught about the coming Christ and where he baptized Jesus. On the other side we could see the Judean Wilderness and we were close to the spot where Jesus was led by the Spirit and tempted by Satan. 

We learned about the Essences and their commitment to be people of the text.  We too made this commitment, to be men and women of the scripture.   

As I blog about our day it is hard to find what stood out to me most or describe the most significant thing God taught me. Its pretty overwhelming to see where the Bible took place and to learn the lesson God taught there. Probably the things I think of 

most today have to do with people. The Bedouin people were a cool experience and it was a blessing to meet them and to learn from their hospitality.  It was even more significant for Holly and I to be atop of the Qumran Mountain and commit to being people of the text. The moment, the hike, the history, the view, the Bible, the day, the scripture, and us together…it was great to commit to the text together in just that way.

As a people of God’s own possession, a people He desires to reveal Him, to glorify Him, to fulfill His purposes…we must be people committed to the text!