Day 03 – Negev Desert, Mitzpe Ramon

Day 3! We woke up to a beautiful sunrise over the Dead Sea and after breakfast, headed outside for a quick devotional before heading out to our only site of the day, Mitzpe Ramon. Along the way, our guide, Yehuda, gave us some interesting facts about the Dead Sea. Did you know that Israel manufactures enough magnesium from the Dead Sea to supply the entire world for 11,000 years?  When you swim in the Dead Sea, the magnesium gives the water an oily feel but makes your skin so soft! It is also 10x saltier than the ocean, so Yehuda had to caution us all not to get it in our eyes. Ouch!

Mitzpe Ramon

Mitzpe Ramon is located in the Negev Desert, a place that certainly lives up to the name. Temperatures in the Negev frequently reach over 112F, but luckily for us, it was only in the mid 70’s today. Even still, we felt the heat as we traveled down into the canyon. Yehuda explained that Mitzpe Ramon is a mahktesh; a crater not formed by a meteor or volcanic eruption, but by erosion. Over time, the crater formed a canyon that stretches over 27 miles long and 7 miles wide! As we went, Pastor Ralph asked us to remember how we felt walking through the desert and reminded us of the role that the desert played in the Bible.

The story of Israel begins in the desert. They didn’t wander the desert, God led them there. Pastor Ralph pointed out that the Israelites had to learn how to trust God and His provision; every time they would worry about food or protection, the answer came from God. We also have desert experiences in our lives; seasons of anxiety, fear, and uncertainty. While we may not physically travel through the desert, God is still the answer and still provides. When you have a desert season, God doesn’t abandon you. The desert is a part of your story and shapes you, just as it shaped the Israelites into a stronger nation. They traveled in the wilderness for 40 years. Our 4-hour trek was enough for us!

We returned to our hotel just in time for a quick refresh and dinner. Early bedtimes tonight; we travel to our next hotel tomorrow at the Sea of Gailee!