Strongholds

Shalom!!

Another extraordinary day here in Israel, this morning we were greeted by a beautiful sunrise over The Dead Sea and the Mountains of Moab. After a heartfelt group prayer on the shore we loaded up the bus and headed to Masada the South Eastern border of Israel in Biblical times.

Upon approaching the Judean Mountain range that Masada was constructed on, I could only imagine how incredible this fortress would be based on the location. As we loaded up on a gondola (with an occupancy of 80+1, lol) and taking the 1,200 ft ride to the top we ascended on the ancient ruins established originally as a “stronghold” by the MacAbees in 150BC as a business camp and later built up under the reign of Herod the Great.

The construction of this “stronghold” was no small feat. Herod’s purposes for construction was to have a fortress in a strategic location on the King’s Highway (an International trade route) where salt, bittamin and perfume were major commodities of the time and could be store-housed until shipped throughout the Roman Empire. The location also provided a non-seizeable fortress or “stronghold”.

This “stronghold” was important to Herod as he was known to be excessively paranoid and suffer from meglomania. This could be seen as he had built not one but 3 palaces that had a 180 degree view of the King’s Highway and the Dead Sea with only 1 entrance which was a zig-zagging trail known as the Snake Trail up a steep rocky 1,200 foot mountain. The kicker, Herod only visited the fortress once.

In our modern times many of us, myself included, still battle with allowing material objects of this world to take priority in our daily lives. I recognized and in some ways related to the “stronghold” Herod had built. I noticed he had let material objects become the center of his life in order for him to feel a since of greatness, security and prestige.

This brought up the question; what “strongholds” have I allowed in my live that are of this world? Houses, cars, finances, relationships, ect. These have become too common in our society and sadly have become accepted and unfortunately at times take the place of the one truly important Stronghold: our relationship with God.

Sitting atop this material “stronghold” overlooking the vistas of the beautiful Dead Sea I couldn’t help but realize how it can be so easy to become lost with the fast pace of society. To become lost in what seems to be of most importance but really is just material possessions of this world. The ONE and only Stronghold we need comes from our faithful relationship with God.

As we headed away from Masada I mulled over the question “What masada’s or strongholds are controlling my life?” The next stop I did not realize would answer this question in entirety.

Next we entered the beautiful National Park of Ein Gedi, a natural oasis dating back 5,000 years nestled in the middle of desert. A location where living water flows year round. As I took a seat on the ground under a tree, next to the Wadi (stream) looking across at a rock cliff adorned with caves we were welcomed by a lesson of David by Sam.

Looking at 1 Samuel 24:1-22. Here is a quick look; David had been running from Saul who was out to kill him and had discovered David was in Ein Gedi, where I was sitting! Now picture this David and his men are in a cave hiding. Saul just happens to wonder into the very cave they are in. Now David has the chance to end this running and hiding and finally step into being King of Israel instead of hiding in caves.

But what does David do?

He snips a piece of Saul’s robe and immediately feels regret. After Saul is back down with his army of 3,000 soldiers David steps out of that very cave and calls down to Saul acknowledging with the clipping of his robe that he could have taken his life but did not because his fate was for God to decide.

David making this decision signifies him making God his Stronghold!

Here in the middle of the desert in a place of God’s creation David found his strength to overcome what some of his men pressured him to do and instead turned to God as his Fortress.

This was such an incredible moment. A realization that no matter if I am in a low place, feeling hurt or sadness God is always there to lift me up. No matter past or present all that God wants is for us to lay everything down before him and with full faith, trust he will guide us down the right path. Full of love God gave us Jesus who becomes our Living Water. I am so grateful to receive such a truly awesome gift: an unseizable Stronghold in our Lord Jesus Christ!

I want to share this verse with you from Psalms 18:1-2 before I go:

“I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

From the Holy Land,
~Krystal Froehlich