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Israel Study Tour - Brian Haynes
June 2-13, 2014
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Living Water
Our agendas have been packed with tremendous site visits, lessons, and God moments. The journey today began in the Engedi of the Judean wilderness and led us through Masada and Qumron. The third day in Israel has been the biggest day yet!
The tone for today was set when we studied scripture at the waterfalls of the Wildgoats’ Rocks (I Sam. 24:2) and contemplated David’s situation - a young man seeking God’s will while being pursued in a wilderness by a jealous, bloodthirsty king. David’s situation was a tremendous reminder of the situations life’s deserts bring us to: physical pain, emotional pain, distress, loss, anxiety, insecurity, etc. God’s word tells us that He is the Living Water that we need in wilderness times. The cascading waterfalls seemed so refreshing, but the refreshment only came when our group immersed ourselves in the cool spring waterfall. God’s word is only refreshing to us when we immerse ourselves in the scriptures - what a way to start our day!
Ein Gedi
En Gedi is the largest oasis along the western shore of the Dead Sea. The springs here have allowed nearly continuous inhabitation of the site since the Chalcolithic period. The area was allotted to the tribe of Judah, and was famous in the time of Solomon (Josh 15:62). Today the Israeli kibbutz of En Gedi sits along the southern bank of the Nahal Arugot.
Just east and to the south of the Dead Sea is the ancient fortress of Masada. The “snake path” and its 1500 steps was the next stop for our group. Atop the formidable plateau, ruins of Roman garrisons which once besieged the fortress were easily spotted along the backdrop of the Dead Sea. The site was evidence of the persecution that the Israelites faced throughout the Old Testament and a reminder that no matter how much we labor to gain security and success, eternal security and success lie only in the promises of God.
Masada
The summit of Masada sits 190 feet (59 m) above sea level and about 1,500 feet (470 m) above the level of the Dead Sea. The mountain itself is 1950 feet (610 m) long, 650 feet (200 m) wide, 4,250 feet (1330 m) in circumference, and encompasses 23 acres. The “Snake Path” climbs 900 feet (280 m) in elevation. From the west, the difference in height is 225 feet (70 m).
The day came to a close as we visited Qumron - home of cave four and five where the Dead Sea scrolls were found. After learning of the painstaking process the scribes endured to keep the Tanakh accurate, a love for the scriptures was something clearly evident in that day. A second monster hike to the top of Qumron revealed a key perspective for the day. The rocky bald of the mountain allowed us to gaze where Christ would have been baptized beyond Jordan, to visualize His eventual entrance into Jerusalem, and to travel where He would have wondered in temptation throughout the Judean wilderness. The emotional moment culminated with our own stones of remembrance.
Qumran
10 miles south of Jericho, Qumran was on a “dead-end street” and provided a perfect location for the isolationist sect of the Essenes to live.
The site was excavated by Catholic priest Roland deVaux from 1953-56. More recent excavations of the site have taken place under the direction of Hanan Eshel.
Dependence, obedience, and provision - these are components learned in the wilderness. Our God created the wilderness and experienced it through His Son, Jesus Christ. Our dependence on Him shows our obedience, and through that obedience, provision is provided. These are simple lessons taught by the master teacher - ones that provide the refreshment of Living Water.
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