Day 03 - Negev: Ein Gedi, Qumran, Lower Jordan

“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them” (John 7:37-38). After two days in the desert, today was all about water. From the waterfalls of Ein Gedi to the famed Jordan River to waves lapping the shore of the Sea of Galilee, we experienced the refreshment of the Lord together.

We said our farewells to the Dead Sea and loaded into the bus for a short drive to Ein Gedi. This green oasis is a stark contrast to its desert surroundings. We gathered to take in the surroundings and recalled how David fled to this area to take refuge while running from King Saul. We sat “in the text” and observed how David wrote what he saw around him. Rocks. Caves for shelter. Springs of fresh water. He turned his surroundings into prayers of trust while awaiting the Lord’s provision and deliverance.

“To you, Lord, I call; you are my Rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me…The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.” (Psalm 28:1a, 8) “Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in your I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” (Psalm 57:1)

We walked to a waterfall, and everyone waded in the pool at its base. After days in the desert, the cool water felt amazing! We’d been drinking more water than we thought possible the past two days, yet we still felt thirsty. Pastor Brad reminded us how Jesus declared that whoever comes to him will never thirst again. He has the living water for our souls. Brad then invited us to step into the waterfall (after first modeling it for us!). One by one, we took turns under the waterfall as everyone cheered and clapped. One group member said it was the most refreshed she’s felt—inside and out. The waterfall’s invigorating refreshment provided a powerful visual for the spiritual refreshment God has for us through Jesus. Only He truly satisfies.

We spent the next hour hiking the trail and exploring various waterfalls leading up to the pinnacle of David’s waterfall. Stalactites on a significant rock shelf lead scholars to believe the area of this waterfall was once a large cave, large enough for David and his hundreds of men to hide from King Saul. It may have been in that spot where David cut the corner of Saul’s robe, refusing to kill him (1 Samuel 24).

From Ein Gedi, we traveled to the Qumran, a site of the renowned Essenes who separated themselves from society to remain pure and await the Messiah. It was in the caves surrounding this site that a Bedouin shepherd stumbled on the Dead Sea Scrolls. We took in the history of this group, as our guide (Dan) walked us through the history and importance of the Dead Sea scrolls in verifying the accuracy of Scripture, particularly the Old Testament prophets that point to Jesus.

We also saw a wadi at this location and learned how a flash flood would fill what looks like a sandy, empty riverbed. The water comes so fast and furious that people are caught unaware. Signs mark the wadi and prohibit people from entering the area. Pastor Brad used the wadi to illustrate the parable of the wise man who builds his house on the rock (Matthew 7:24-27). We may think we’ve built our lives on solid ground. But then the flash flood comes, and what looks like safety leads to death. Jesus teaches that a solid life is built on hearing AND putting his words into practice. As we walk “in the text,” please pray that we won’t just hear these words and forget but put them into practice when we return to our daily lives.

Our final tour stop of the day was the Jordan River. As we drove through the West Bank to the river, Dan gave us a brief history of the state of Israel, how the West Bank came to be, and the current challenges. The river was unusually quiet (likely due to the high heat). Pastor Brad walked us through Jesus’s baptism, reminding us that it was in this spot that the Father pronounced who Jesus was. “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22b). We sat in a few minutes of reflection to remember who God says we are through Jesus - beloved sons and daughters whom He delights in. It was a powerful moment to face the river and know this was where Jesus’s ministry began, where the road to the cross began, where the journey to the sacrifice that paid the price for our sins began, so we, too, could be called God’s children.

From the river, we made a 2-hour drive to the Sea of Galilee. Our hotel sits right on the water. After check-in, we immediately headed down for a swim. Most of us bobbed in the water, bouncing with the waves for a solid hour. The Sea and the surrounding mountains are breathtaking. This evening, the lights in the towns across the water twinkle as the waves lap the shore. Tomorrow, we follow Jesus’s ministry around the coast. Please continue praying that we will absorb all God has for us and be transformed by it. We praise God for the sweet friendships being formed, the good health we’ve experienced and his sustaining power through full days in high heat.

Shabbat Shalom!