Day 03 - Negev: Masada, Ein Gedi, Qumran, Lower Jordan, Jericho

Shalom, Shalom!

On Day 3 in Israel we explored … THE DESERT, PART DEUX!

Today was even hotter than yesterday … which was fitting seeing as we spent a great deal of time contrasting stagnant versus living water. 

First, we went to Masada – the fortress palace of Herod the Great, and site of the Zealots' last stand.  From there we explored Ein Gedi, an oasis in the heart of the desert where David spent a significant time experiencing the healing “living water” of God and writing many of the Psalms. Contrasting these two images gives a powerful example of the extremes of faith and paranoia.

From there we explored John the Baptist, the Essenes (the community at Qumran who drafted the Dead Sea Scrolls), the likely site of Jesus’ baptism, and Jericho.

We have done a LOT of walking and a LOT of studying. Please pray for renewed bodies and fresh minds. 

Why …

Because tomorrow … we head to the Galilee, and we begin reflecting on the world of Jesus. 

GRACE&PEACE.