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Israel Study Tour with Dr. Tim Keiper and Pastor Paul Petersen
June 18-29, 2016
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Judean Wilderness
Sites we visited today: Ein Gedi, Masada, Bedouin Camp/Camel ride, Arad, Qumran
Finding connections to Jesus. We started at Ein Gedi, a spring that flows into the Dead Sea. Living water flowing. Tim told us about a David connection to Ein Gedi. David was hiding from Saul--it wasn't yet time for the Lord's plan for David to be king. Saul found a cave and went in. Saul was distracted and David was able to cut off the corner hem of Saul's robe--where his tzitzit was attached. These tassels symbolized both Saul's obedience to the Lord and his kingly authority.
The David connection made a Jesus connection. The woman with the hemorrhage reached to touch Jesus' hem--his tzitzit, the symbol of his authority. She was healed because she trusted in Who he was. We read this story without the David connection and the woman's actions seem strange and the focus seems to be on her works. Knowing about David helps us understand Jesus a bit better.
Another Jesus connection. Ein Gedi flows. Mayim Chaim. Living water. From David to Jesus again. At the highest day of the feast of Succoth, the priest pours water on the altar in the Temple in Jerusalem. The people shout "Mayim Chaim" again and again. And then silence as the water flows. Jesus stands up (John 7) and declares, "I am Living Water (Mayim Chaim)! Jesus as water in the wilderness, refreshing and giving life. Where is your wilderness? Are you there now? Jesus is mayim chaim for you. Let this water splash over you and revive you.
Ein Gedi
En Gedi is the largest oasis along the western shore of the Dead Sea. The springs here have allowed nearly continuous inhabitation of the site since the Chalcolithic period. The area was allotted to the tribe of Judah, and was famous in the time of Solomon (Josh 15:62). Today the Israeli kibbutz of En Gedi sits along the southern bank of the Nahal Arugot.
Yesterday some folks got really tired and spent on our hike in the Judean wilderness. They came to a different stream and laid in that moving water. They were revived and refreshed. Let the Living Water flow!
Written by Jeff
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