The sovereignty of God through it all

Salty air and the sounds of birds greeted us on a pier overlooking the Dead Sea the morning of day two. As we began our morning devotion, we prayed for friends here and back home and reflected on the great I Am who is independent of us, yet invites each of us to experience the joy of sharing Him with others.

Our bus ride was filled with laughter and expectation as we scanned over miles and miles of mountain terrain on our way to Masada, Herod the Great’s fortified palace in the desert. If you can picture a great cliff with a palace built on it’s most northern edge, the Dead Sea stretching to the East, and miles of mountainous desert in every direction, then you’ve found Masada. As you look out at the vast nothingness, it begs the question, “Why build here in the middle of nowhere?” That question was answered shortly by our guide, Yejudah who explained that Masada was in line with a very important trade route. It wasn’t until after our gondola ride to the top that we understood how strategically Herod had placed his palace. Only about 26 miles north is En Gedi, which you could see clearly from the northern point of the palace. If any army was set to invade they would come from the direction of En Gedi and Herod would be able to see them coming and escape. Most of Masada’s lower walls are original. A black line drawn along the walls helped us differentiate original construction and reconstructed sections. Herod had vast storage areas to stockpile items for trade. He had a bathhouse that included a small swimming pool and a heated sauna. Herod took what was inhospitable and made it lavish and livable, but at a high price for many Jewish slaves. After Herod’s death, the Romans invaded Masada by building a ramp to breach the wall.

After Masada, we enjoyed Bedouin hospitality. In a large circular tent, sitting on cushions we learned that true hospitality consists of loyalty, humility and sacrifice. We were treated to tea, coffee and pita bread made in the traditional Bedouin style. As we let the sweetness of the tea settle on our tongues we listened to how a Bedouin would host a guest for three and a third days, promising to protect him during his stay. We were reminded of Romans 12:13 “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” If such an inhospitable land can offer so much hospitality, surely as followers of Christ we can do the same. Once all the pita bread was eaten, we were off to experience a camel caravan in the desert. I would love to paint a majestic picture of stately riders along an ancient desert path, but our group was more of a scene out of a comedy. It was a fantastic experience and one to never pass up.

Next, we arrived at Tel Arad by way of green pastures and winding mountain roads. The amount of history in this particular land of Judah is extensive. We started in Genesis with Abram and went into the 8th century and Hezekiah’s destruction of the temple. This was no simple village. It was a highly organized center for troops to protect Judah from the South.

By this time of the day, we were wind blown, dusty and overwhelmed with the vastness of the land, its history and the sovereignty of God through it all. The promise of a soak in the Dead Sea pushed us forward. There was no better way to end our day, but in the same way it began. This time we were floating in the Dead Sea and reflecting on the great I Am as God’s church.