Up to Jerusalem - Israel Tour

March 4-14, 2016

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The right way to fight

This morning after breakfast, we said goodbye to the beautiful Ramot Resort Hotel on the Sea of Galilee. On the bus David Lockhart gave a devotional from Philippians 3:10, “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” We were encouraged to participate, identify, and experience with Christ and the power of His resurrection.

Heading south we passed through the Jezreel Valley and saw where the Jordan River becomes the border between Israel and Jordan. It is at this point, the West Bank of the river is Israel and the East is Jordan. As we were driving, Tito taught us about the two forms of agriculture through cooperative farming in Israel. The kibbutzims are socialistic-type collective communities and the moshav is more separate in economics but collective in their growing. You can learn more about it here.

As we turned west we passed Mount Gilboa with the biblical border of Samaria to our left and Judea to our right.

Jim Showers shared a devotional at Gideon’s Spring. In Judges 6 it says that the Israelites were doing evil in the site of the Lord. God sent the Midianites to prevail over them. For seven years they were destroying the crops and livestock of Israel and to escape they moved to strongholds and caves. Israel cried out to the Lord to save them from their enemies. God raised up Gideon to deliver Israel from their enemies. Gideon saw what was happening and asked where the miracles of God were that their forefather’s talked about. In Judges 7 the Israelites rose early and came to the spring, the Lord told Gideon that there were too many in the army – that when they won they would take the glory for themselves. Jim asked, have we ever stolen God’s glory? God told him to send home all that are afraid. 22,000 men went home. There were still too many. God instructed Gideon to tell them men to go down to the water and those that lapped with their tongues could stay and those who used their hands could leave. Only 300 lapped. Jim explained that in Judaism it is taught: The men that lapped like a dog trusted, the men that kneeled were worried about the enemy. God then put fear in the Midianite camp and they trampled over themselves without the Israelites having to use their swords. Just like these 300 men, we are in the hands of the Lord at all times. When we are in difficult places, God reminds us that it is He that gives the victory. Jim shared his personal story with going through trials and hardships. It taught him that he needed to rely on God – that he wasn’t in control, God was. We may have difficulty but we can rely on Him whatever He does – it is for HIS glory and honor. May He be glorified in and through us.

Tito shared the fascinating story of Charles Orde Wingate, a Christian British officer that came to Israel and used the story of Gideon to teach Israel to fight. He is known today as the father of the Israel Defense Force (IDF). You can learn more about it here.

As we drive these roads, it is striking to see the gorgeous and seemingly endless fields of rich soil or rows of mangos, cherries, cherry tomatoes (which are an Israeli innovation), almond trees, grapes, bananas and beautiful date palms. This really is the land of milk and honey! A miracle in the desert.

We toured the Roman ruins of Beth She’an. The views of the imported marble that are prevalent through the city center is beautiful. Tito gave us a walk through tour which featured the ancient theater that seated 8,000 and an amphitheater. You can learn more about it here.

After a delicious lunch at Beth She’an, we continued south. We drove along the security fence along the Palestinian areas. 95% of this security border is fence with only 5% being a wall. The 5% wall are in populated areas where Palestinian terrorist snipers targeted civilians. Israel is doing a marvelous job using their technological skills to keep their citizens safe, both Jewish and Arab.

Along our route, Tito serenaded us with “Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho”. He then surprised us with a surprise stop to the now Palestinian autonomous city of Jericho!

At our surprise stop, Tito talked of the most famous story of this city, Joshua and the fall of Jericho (Joshua 6), we saw the sycamore tree of Zacchaeus (Luke 19), as well as the spot where Jesus healed a blind man (Luke 18). We did some shopping in Jericho where the Palestinian shop owners bring products from Hebron, where there is not access.

We traveled the road of the Good Samaritan from Jericho to Jerusalem. It was fun to see Bedouin nomads and their sheep along the way.

We left the West Bank all singing “The Holy City” as we approached Jerusalem!

Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Lift up your gates and sing,
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna to your King!

We checked into our hotel in Jerusalem at 4:30 pm local time with a wonderful dinner to follow. Some went to a local shopping mall after dinner. We will be rested and recharged for a full day of touring in this beautiful city tomorrow.

“Ten measures of beauty descended on the world – nine were taken by Jerusalem, one by the rest of the world. There is no beauty like the beauty of Jerusalem.” (Babylonian Talmud, Kidushin, 49:2)

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