Day 03 - Negev - Galilee: Masada, Ein Gedi, Qumran

We started our day with a bus ride straight to Masada and had our devo just inside the walls. Terry and Yehuda gave us a brief history lesson from Alexander the Great to Augustus Caesar.

Masada is a large fortress, atop a mountain, built for Herod the Great. Herod was a brilliant yet evil egomaniac who was fueled by his paranoia. Under Roman authority, he ruled as king over the Jewish people. His industrious nature and ability to tax everything helped him amass great wealth in a relatively short amount of time. Whatever Herod demanded, including multiple pools and saunas in the middle of his desert fortress, he received. One can only image the time and effort put into constructing this fortress, and the multitude of lives sacrificed for its grandeur. Herod required greatness, and the ability of those who worked for him must have been as top notch as his ideas.

Just by looking around, we received great insight into Herod’s character, wealth, power, and paranoia. The heightened sense of fear he must have felt at the birth of a coming king shed light on why he would think it so imperative to kill a Jewish baby, Jesus, when He was born.

Upon leaving Masada, we traveled a short distance Ein Gedi (meaning place of the spring goat), an oasis and nature reserve that was a welcome relief to those traveling in the desert. Natural springs run throughout this area allowing for drastically decreased temperatures. Vegetation and animals thrive in this cooler environment full of fresh water. We had the pleasure of seeing a Hyrax (rock badger) and Ibexes (goats) nearby.

In the middle of this oasis, Terry pointed out the visible caves on a nearby mountain and spoke of David in 1 Samuel 24. Remember David’s desert season? He was running from Saul who was determined to kill God’s chosen King and prevent him from coming to rule. David fled to this area to hide in the caves as Saul pursued him. Saul unknowingly entered the very cave in which David and his men were hiding in the depths. David could have killed him. He knew God had promised that he would one day be king, and this was an avenue to bring that promise to fruition. David’s men even encouraged it, but the Lord spoke to David and he was moved to compassion. He knew that the ends didn’t justify the means. For all of his mistakes and sins, David constantly sought to do did things God’s way. That is why he was considered to be a man after God’s own heart. How often are we tempted to take the short cut instead of God’s way? David’s life is a great reminder that what we accomplish isn’t nearly as important as how we accomplish it. God will be successful either way. He does not need our help, he simply needs our faithfulness.

Upon leaving the oasis, Yehuda informed us about the many different Dead Sea products that would be available at our next stop, including a premium diamond dust cream that works just like Botox!

Our last stop of the day was Qumran. It was here that we learned about the Dead Sea scrolls that were found in 1947. Yehuda told the story of a young shepherd looking for a lost sheep among the caves. Thinking a sheep might have wandered inside, he threw a stone into the cave. He expected a sheep to run out, but instead heard the sound of pottery breaking. When he entered the cave he found large jars, and within the jars he found pieces of the first Dead Sea scrolls.

These scrolls are the oldest Hebrew scriptures to have ever been discovered. Pieces of each book of the Bible have been found, the latest of which was from the book of Esther. The entire book of Isaiah was found, which seems fitting given that it prophesies the coming of Christ. And what’s more, there are minimal inconsistencies with those translations passed down for centuries. The scrolls were written 1,000 years before the oldest Bible of record. This is wonderful news for us, as it means that we can continue to be confident to trust in the Word of God.

As we leave our three days in the desert, let us not forget what we’ve learned so far:
1) It is especially in our desert moments that God is at work building in us a fierce faith

2) The only water that will quench our thirst is the Living Water of God

3) To be men and women after God’s own heart, we must be more concerned with our faithfulness than our success.

Today ends a beautiful journey through the desert.

Tomorrow we will explore Galilee and walk where Jesus walked!

Until Tomorrow...

Ashley Fuhr