Day 02 - Negev: Wilderness of Zin, Bedouin Hospitality, Camel Ride, Salt Sea

Today we left at 7:30am from our hotel at The Dead Sea. This body of water, which is actually fresh water, is the lowest point on earth at 1200 ft below sea level.

We ended up at the Wilderness of Zin, in a beautiful canyon with a creek running through it.

This is one of the places where the Israelites were settled on their long  journey to the Promised Land. From here, Moses sent Joshua and Caleb and other scouts ahead to see how close they were. The scouts came back, reporting that the destination was near, and more beautiful than they had ever imagined! Yet, it was heavily fortified and overtaking it seemed impossible.

Frustrated and impatient, many of the Israelites dissented and refused to move forward.

But God spoke and reminded them how He had met them in their dire times of need each and every time along their long journey. Parting the Red Sea, providing water where there was none, and giving them Manna to eat when there was no food to be found. He warned them to follow Him again and face the guarded land He alone had promised to them or they would be left behind to perish. 

This story from Deuteronomy 8, reminds us that God is always with us—that we can depend on His faithfulness  whenever we are in times of need. God had provided the Israelites with Manna to eat, which was a food they had never experienced before. When they were depending on God for their daily food, they were easily obedient. Yet, they just as easily forgot how God provided when facing the guarded land that He had led them to.

Sometimes God will test us as He tested the Israelites. Do we trust in Him, and march forward with the confidence in remembering how He has helped us in the past, or do we lose our faith and give in? God loves it when we trust in Him and show obedience and faith when faced with difficulty. The Israelites ended up following God, and claimed the land He promised in His name and for His people.

Clint Johnson