Israel In Depth - Rocky Peak

April 26 - May 7, 2015

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In The Great Outdoors

Today, we started our adventure at the opening of a canyon in the Zin Wilderness. The rock formations and native plants were breathtaking. They looked like something from a painting…something that you cannot begin to describe, but only encourage others to experience. Our group of 46, plus our fearless tour guide, Ronen, traversed the canyon floor, hopped across the Jordan, and bravely climbed the narrow, steep staircase to the top.

Ein Avdat

The Nahal Zin was the southern border of the land of Canaan that was promised to the Israelites. Numbers 34:3-4 (KJV) “Then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the coast of Edom, and your south border shall be the outmost coast of the salt sea eastward: And your border shall turn from the south to the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass on to Zin: and the going forth thereof shall be from the south to Kadeshbarnea, and shall go on to Hazaraddar, and pass on to Azmon.”

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To think that reaching the top would have been an end to this adventure would be common sense, but it would not be the truism of our experience. From here, we refilled our water and walked across the rocky desert for approximately half a mile to stop for a brief camel ride. During our camel journey, one of our troops lost her cell phone to the stomping hooves of the camel behind her. The other victim of this excursion was the sole of someone’s hiking boot, as it peeled off during her camel disembarkation. Not to worry though, we are all in excellent health and spirits in the pursuit of our moving closer to our Father.

More importantly than the physical and visual aspects of our journey this afternoon is the spiritual component. Pastor Mike brought these lands to life for all of us through the scripture. It is one thing to appreciate the natural beauty of rock and trees, but another entirely to know and understand that you are walking the lands of those who were led by God, were tested by God, and eventually led to the Promised Land by God. The land itself feels as though it calls to you as you travel it’s great expanse.

Upon our return to civilization from the wilderness, we changed into our beach attire and walked to the Dead Sea. Here, we floated in the warm, salty, oily water and giggled like little children. At one point, the majority of us were covered from head to toe in Dead Sea mud provided by the mighty Ronen, keeper of the mud and taker of pictures. It was fantastic! We are all definitely very excited for all of the wonders that are in store for us tomorrow.

Rain Wald

Dead Sea

Known in the Bible as the “Salt Sea” or the “Sea of the Arabah,” this inland body of water is appropriately named because its high mineral content allows nothing to live in its waters. Other post-biblical names for the Dead Sea include the “Sea of Sodom,” the “Sea of Lot,” the “Sea of Asphalt” and the “Stinking Sea.” In the Crusader period, it was sometimes called the “Devil’s Sea.” All of these names reflect something of the nature of this lake.

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