Venturing into the Negev

Today our group of 24 people started our day by venturing into the Negev desert for the most intense physical challenge and profound spiritual message on this tour so far.

Upon arriving we find our desert surroundings to be almost hauntingly beautiful. Though our group has different physical capabilities, we all learn to work together weaving through very intricate terrain. Stopping first at an Acacia tree, we learn the survival, beauty and treasure like properties thereof. We were then asked to find a person in our lives who shared these properties and that we could consider our Acacia tree in life. I was quickly able to answer that my wife Tracy is that person. She’s beautiful, comforting and will stand strong through the weathering of life. That certainly furthered my appreciation for her and will improve my marriage as a result.

With that, we were back on an unpredictable trail through the mountains that got tougher and more treacherous with every turn. We helped one another through obstacles that for some of us, would normally not be possible. Upon climbing to the top of the mountain, we were introduced to the idea of God making a covenant of marriage to his people through salvation by grace. The comparison of all of God’s movements with the Israelites like a wedding, the 10 commandments wedding vows to His bride. I was blown off of my feet by this concept and was able to see it not only in the perspective of the exodus, but in my own personal relationship with God.

This is yet another piece of a puzzle to a bigger picture that is fulfilling a spiritual hunger and desire inside of me that lead me on this trip to begin with. God has met me in Israel. He is already showing me signs and wonders, speaking to me like never before and cultivating me into the man he created me to be. I am in elation and wonder to see what he does next.

- Jason Echols