Learning contentment from the wilderness

Today was packed with activity and fun, and what better day of the week to ride camels than Hump Day ("What day is it?!").

The Judean Wilderness
We began the morning with a devotional by the Dead Sea (a few of us ended the day there, as well, floating in some very cold water!), then it was off to the Judean Wilderness. As rode through this vast area, then stopped to take a short journey ourselves, it was easy to see why the Israelites grew discontent in a short time. Fortunately for us, the day was not a summer day, which could see temps in the triple digits. It was windy and cold, though, and we were reminded that no matter what the season, it would not be the place anyone would want to spend 40 years.

After our guide told us more about the desert, Pastor Terry took us through Numbers 20, where Moses struck the rock, in response to the peoples' demands. He then had one of us read Moses' words in Deuteronomy 8:1-4:

“The whole commandment that I command you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers. 2 And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. 3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. 4 Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years.

Our wilderness lesson highlighted how the Lord took Israel through the wilderness to build their faith. Multiple experiences of hunger, thirst and scant provisions were a part of God's plan to take the Egypt out of Israel, so that they would enter the land in full dependence upon Him. And just as He intended to take the Egypt out of them, He also sees us through hard times to help take the world out of us. And as He does, we can say with confidence, "We do not live by bread alone," and "give us this day our daily bread." We need nothing more. We simply need what our Good Father provides.

Nothing can teach us such contentment quite like the wilderness.

Arad:
From there we traveled to a fortress overlooking Arad, where we saw examples of "hinotheism," where certain Israelites spoke of worshiping the one true God, but also served other gods. We were reminded how we can be hinotheists at heart, pledging allegiance to Christ, but also giving ourselves to lesser things that promise the joy and contentment only God can give.

The Bedouin Experience:
Next we traveled to see Bedouin shepherds, who took us on a short camel ride, then provided rich hospitality in a large Bedouin tent, where we were served tea, strong (and we mean, STRONG!) coffee, and handmade pita bread.

Here we learned some interesting things about the kind of hospitality Abram showed to his three important visitors in Genesis 18:1-8.

Masada:
All of us should sleep well tonight, after scaling the stairs and ramps to the top of Masada. It was quite a journey, but well worth our sore leg muscles! The views of the Dead Sea, En Gedi, and the surrounding wilderness were breathtaking.

There is so much to write about this ancient fortress, and especially how Herod the Great built it up and used it to his advantage. What stood out in the end, however, was how Pastor Terry was able to introduce to us the real world Jesus entered; a world driven by politics and economics.

And just as our world today is influenced by those two things, so was the world Jesus entered. Knowing this, began to see hints of why Jesus was viewed as such a threat, especially to Herod and to Rome.

While enhancing Masada with impressive wonders, Herod said, "[My enemies] may hate me, but they will always remember me." Such is true in one sense--when you tour Masada, you can't help but notice Herod's indelible on history. For those of us who hope in Christ, though, Herod's story is nothing short of a tragedy. Masada may be his footprint, but his reign is no more. His mighty fortress is now a national park, not a tower of power. It is surrounded by mountains and a sea, all made by the One True King, who came not with political or economic promises, but with Living Words and Eternal Life.