Day 02 - Negev: Masada — Bedouin Hospitality — Tel Arad — Dead Sea

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” Isaiah 43:18-19

Day 2 will be one we remember for the rest of our lives! Our day in the desert provided vivid illustrations of depending on the Lord and learning to lean on each other for support. Throughout the intense heat (113 F according to someone’s watch), we checked in on each other and shared our resources.

After breakfast, we walked across the street to the Dead Sea for a devotional led by Pastor Ben. He shared Isaiah 43 and asked us to consider our posture toward God on this trip. Are we closed-fisted toward him in the face of deep struggle? Are we open-handed and surrendering to his will? We might even be both at the same time. Are we willing to allow God to do something new in us here? Ben asked how it felt to be in the land. Group members shared “awe, overwhelmed, blessed, grateful, humbled and surreal.” With a prayer over our day, we loaded the bus and began our ascent to Masada.

Our first views of Masada from the bus were impressive. Little did we know how much this site would challenge and move us. The heat was already so high that the trail was closed. Many of us had trained in hopes of hiking the famed path, but in the face of the letdown, we recognized the temperature made such a hike unsafe. We were grateful to load into a massive cable car and enjoy the ride to the top.

Our guide, Dan, gave us incredible historical background as we drove to the site. While Masada isn’t biblical history, part of its story sits between the Testaments leading up to Jesus. Herod the Great built the fortress as his supposed “winter resort.” The history is questionable as to whether or not he ever used the site, and it’s possible he built Masada as his fortress should Israel ever attempt revolt against Rome. The latter part of its story plays out decades post Jesus’s death and resurrection and around the fall of Jerusalem. It’s impossible to summarize all we heard and saw at Masada, and we will process this for weeks to come. Herod the Great’s impressive architecture, the cost of human lives to build it, and the story of the later rebels who made a 4-year stand against Rome and ultimately gave their lives are so powerful. As we concluded our tour, our guide Dan recited the final speech the rebel commander Elazar made to his men. To sit in the synagogue, on the very seats where these men listened to his speech, is beyond words.

We descended the backside of the mountain, following the path of the Roman siege ramp. The cool air of the bus provided much-needed refreshment and rest as we headed toward the Bedouin Hospitality site. This handmade oasis is a sight to behold. After endless miles of colorless desert and glaring sun, this green space brings relief and rest.

Our first desert-life experience was CAMEL RIDES. There’s not much more to say! None of us are ready to take a week-long ride across the desert on one, but we are amazed at God’s incredible design for these animals. We next practiced our shepherding skills with a small flock of goats and a friendly-ish competition between the men and women. We won’t say who won, but it’s much harder than it looks!

We entered a hospitality tent to begin processing our God as a good shepherd and His call to hospitality. While we sat on low cushions and read Scripture, our Bedouin host prepared and served treats. We started with a sweet hot tea. You wouldn’t think hot tea would be enjoyable after hours in 100+ temperatures, but eyebrows raised across the tent as we took our first taste. Next, our host prepared and made flatbread for us over hot coals. The warm, soft, doughy texture was a memorable treat. Lastly, he roasted coffee beans over the coals and ground them in a drum-like device, making a musical beat. The sounds of coffee grinding would call others into the tent to welcome the guests. The thick, rich coffee gave us a much-needed afternoon boost.

While we were treated to this warm hospitality, Pastor Brad walked us through hospitality as revealed in Scripture. We remembered how God is our good shepherd (Psalm 23). The imagery of God leading his people to green pastures and quiet waters starkly contrasts our surroundings today. While we had to resort to some…antics…to herd our goats, God is a gentle good shepherd whose kindness calls us to repentance (Romans 2:4). We reviewed the stories of Abraham and Lot’s hospitality. Abraham offered his sojourners water and bread, an abundance of bread! These elements mean life in the harsh desert. His generosity reflects the image of our God. We then sat with the challenge from the Apostle Peter to “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling” (1 Peter 4:9). Hospitality is not convenient or always comfortable, and it can be costly. But as we serve others in this way, we provide space at the table for them to see God’s love through us.

We had opportunities to serve and look out for one another throughout this day of intense heat — sharing shade umbrellas, cooling towels, electrolyte tablets, and checking in on each other for water consumption.

Before heading back to our Dead Sea hotel, we made a short stop at Tel Arad. This site’s discovery was of international importance and revealed in new ways the validity of Scripture. One section of Arad showed a Canaanite city defeated by Joshua. It’s also believed to be the location the 12 spies entered. This makes Arad the first Canaanite town the Israelites encountered. While they may have picked up good things from the city (such as what a solid house structure could be), they also discovered detestable practices forbidden by God that they would engage in for generations to come. The fortress on the hill behind the city revealed an in-tact discovery of a “high place” of worship for the Israelites. As their faith in God drifted, they set up places of worship strictly forbidden by God. This place was a mini-replica of the temple in Jerusalem. The excavation revealed evidence of this being a site intentionally buried as part of King Josiah’s reforms to rid the people of these practices and return to God (2 Kings 23). We remembered how little compromises can lead to significant spiritual drift over time. May we bury our high places and fully trust the Lord as he designed us.

Tomorrow, we head to the Sea of Galilee and will begin to walk in the footsteps of Jesus!