Help support our friends in Israel in their time of need.
Bethel Bible Church Presents:
October 29 - November 9, 2017
Subscription options are no longer available for this tour.
The God that saves
We began our day at En Gedi – the “spring of the young goat” or the “spring of the ibex.” This is where David hid from Saul and was betrayed by his countrymen, the Ziphites. And so, it is here where he mournfully & sorrowfully writes psalms like Psalm 42, 54, & 63. It is a desert climate, and so water is in short supply, while heat & dryness & desperation are in abundance. One can hear the roar of a waterfall from far off, and almost irresistibly, one is drawn to the life that it offers. David drawn to his God in the same way, and so we are invited to experience the living waters that Jesus brings to those who will receive. Not only that – astonishingly, Jesus tells us that streams of living water will flow from us because that is precisely what this world needs, and precisely what God offers in abundance through us.
Ein Gedi
En Gedi is the largest oasis along the western shore of the Dead Sea. The springs here have allowed nearly continuous inhabitation of the site since the Chalcolithic period. The area was allotted to the tribe of Judah, and was famous in the time of Solomon (Josh 15:62). Today the Israeli kibbutz of En Gedi sits along the southern bank of the Nahal Arugot.
We explored Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered many decades ago. These are the oldest extant manuscripts of texts such as Isaiah that we have. It confirms that God has miraculously provided & protected His Word so that His people will hear Him speak.
Qumran
10 miles south of Jericho, Qumran was on a “dead-end street” and provided a perfect location for the isolationist sect of the Essenes to live.
The site was excavated by Catholic priest Roland deVaux from 1953-56. More recent excavations of the site have taken place under the direction of Hanan Eshel.
From Qumran we journeyed to the Jordan River – the river that “goes down” from Mt. Hermon in the north to the Dead Sea in the south – a descent of almost 8,000 vertical feet. Here we learned of Joshua, Elisha and ultimately Jesus experiencing a parting so that God would be known and received as the God that saves.
Eric Barton
Tyler, TX
Upcoming Signature Tours
With 30 years of experience creating trips for other ministries, we've prepared our own signature study tours featuring some of our favorite itineraries and compelling teachers! If you've never been on a GTI Study Tour, take a moment to learn more about what you can expect.