Israel Study Tour - Ancient Paths

October 25 - November 7, 2021

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Day 01 - Tel-Gezer, Beth Shemesh & Tel-Azekah

Hey Friends and Family,

It was quite a day today. We left Tel-Aviv early this morning and headed East. We visited three very significant sites in an area called The Shephelah, which means “lowlands,” the Judean foothills between the coastal planes and Judean mountains. 

 

Our first stop was Tel-Gezer, a lookout point where we could see the coast off in one direction, where the Philistines used to live, and the Shephelah around us where the tribe of Ephraim lived. Rabbi Rod helped us to understand that when the 12 tribes of Israel moved into this region, God put them right at the crossroads of culture, near the trade routes from north to south, and east to west. But they were small and uncivilized. They were like a little mice surrounded by big cats. Key idea here… it has always pleased God to use the small and the weak to bring about his kingdom on earth.

 

Our second stop was a Tel where the ancient tribe of Dan lived, Beth Shemesh. This was Samson’s hometown, the judge who was anointed by God with superhuman strength, but who strayed from God’s commands and his Nazarene vow. The big idea here… Samson was called by God to be set apart and distinctive from the pagan cultures around him, but instead, he assimilated into the self-indulgent and violent culture around him. So as followers of Jesus, what makes us distinctive from the culture around us? Are we influencing culture? Or, is culture influencing us? 

 

Our third stop was amazing… it was a high lookout point at a place called Azekah, that overlooked the valley where the Philistines and the Israelites faced off for days, until a teenager named David faced Goliath, and took him down with one stone and a sling. The big idea… what do you have to offer God? Even when we feel like we’re too young, or too old, or too small or insignificant, God can take down giants through the least likely people when He is with us. 

 

After these amazing experiences, we headed to the shores of the Dead Sea, where we will stay for the next four nights. Thanks for following along. 

 

Shalom. 

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