Day 01 - Shephelah: Yad Hashmonah, Beth Shemesh, Elah Valley, Beersheba

The Bible came alive as we experienced the land on our first day. We started out in Kiriath-Jearim where we reflected on God’s love and faithful presence in the area where the ark of the covenant initially resided before David moved it to Jerusalem (1 Samuel 7).  We smelled the herbs, saw the olive trees, touched a wine press and learned about the unique richness of the land promised to God’s people as we walked through a biblical garden in the Judean mountains near Jerusalem.

The story of the Israelites facing the Philistines in battle came alive while we hiked through historic archaeological finds at Khirbet Qeiyafa, seeing some of the exact gates of a small city David likely established at the valley of Elah – the site where David (not Saul) took on Goliath in epic battle. As we looked over the valley where David defeated Goliath, Pastor Matt recounted the story from the narrator and the varying character’s points of view. These stories become our own as the Lord brought to mind our own unique battles that He is fighting for us in unlikely ways. We left with stones from the same brook David likely accessed for his five smooth stones - a reminder His power is greater than our own.

As the sun set over Beersheba, in the land promised to Abraham, we walked the 4,000-year-old ruins and saw the well referenced in Genesis 21. We heard the sheep bleating in the hills nearby as we learned about the seven sheep he traded in covenant with Abimelech. We were shaded by the same type of tamarisk tree Abraham would have planted and newly appreciated the significance of water and shade in a dessert climate. This spot would benefit Abraham’s son, Isaac, and grandson, Jacob, and their kids for years to come. Tangible reminders for generations of Abraham’s relationships to God, the “Eternal One”!

A great and full first day!

Heather Johnson