When I am weak, then I am Strong…

Masada: “In you Lord, I have taken refuge. Let me never be put to shame. Deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me. Come quickly to my rescue. Be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name, lead and guide me.” Psalm 31: 1-3

We started the day at Masada, a palace on a cliff built by King Herod. To access the ruins, our team ascended the heights in extreme heat with steep elevation. It was the most grueling experience so far and is difficult to describe. Many team members expressed they were brought to the end of themselves. It can be fearful when we reach that moment. There is doubt in our abilities, our strength, our endurance. Will I reach the top we ask. Only in such moments do you realize how weak you really are. We really do need each other, but most importantly, we need God. Moments like this make that very evident. We realized, when we can admit we need help, we demonstrate true strength. Fortunately, each person did reach the top but not in a way we could have predicted. One team member was physically exhausted unable to step or move without assistance. She blessed our team through her vulnerability and weakness, as we witnessed one team member, and then another, and another, and lastly her son, carry her to the top. True Beauty. True strength demonstrated through weakness. And through this exchange, a community is starting to develop.

Another unforgettable image is worth mentioning about our ascent of Masada. Our team followed a group of young soldiers in training from the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) up the cliff. We, a group of Gentiles, followed the Israeli banner held by the youth of His people to the heights. What a prophetic image of all future nations in His land, both Jew and Gentile, chosen or grafted in to His family, to walk in His land with purpose. But at that time, our eyes will be on our true banner, Jesus, for the Lord is our Banner (Exodus 18).

At the top, Rod shared the history behind the structure, the personality of the man who built it, and the scene into which the Messiah was born. We walked the ruins and settled in a section to learn of the zealots who retreated to Masada in 66 AD to escape the brutality of the Romans. Rod posed the question, “What are you zealous for? How do you express it?”

Arad: Next, we traveled by bus to the ancient city of Arad. We had lunch and then hiked to an ancient Bet-Ab (Father’s House) that precedes the time of Abraham. There, we learned of the patriarchal system and the role of the father to care for all those in his Bet-Ab. Each person’s identity and meaning connected to the Patriarch. Today, ours does as well. God is our Father. He has called us into His Beth-Ab giving us all His resources to bring others into His Bet-Ab. God redeems the marginalized and calls us to act in His redemptive story to invite others into God’s House. But, we as well have individual Bet-Abs. Rod encouraged us, “Get serious about your house. Extend your Bet-Ab!”

We, then, hiked up a hill to a city from the time of Hezekiah. At this location, an excavation revealed the presence of a temple with the exact proportions prescribed by God in the Scripture. Hezekiah, being a leader of national revival, took revival seriously as he built a temple, though later buried it. We are left to wonder, why? Was it because he wanted to be later discovered – to show future generations that the people were faithful during his reign? To walk through the ancient Holy of Holies, to stand where the Shekinah glory was worshipped with sacrifice and reverence, to look from that spot to the Beth-Ab in the distance was an image that brings the Old Testament alive.

Wilderness of Tzin: “You make my feet like the feet of a deer. You cause me to stand on the heights.” Psalm 18: 33.

We traveled by bus in mid-afternoon to the Wilderness of Tzin. We hiked through a canyon between two cliffs visited by deer native to that area. When we stood in silence, we were surrounded by the sounds of birds bouncing off the cliff walls surrounding us. We were blessed with 20 minutes or so to just sit, reflect and pray. Those moments were precious as we have not had much time to slow down and just soak in the surroundings.

After, we had another ascent up one of the cliffs we nestled under just moments before. Again, a different team member was not able to journey on her own. A group of men stood by her side, and behind, not just offering their strength but also their prayers. Because, where does our true help come from? I lift my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121: 1-2. Another confirmation that one of our lessons for the day is to admit when you need help. Weakness is our invitation to tap into true Strength.

Once at the top, the image was breath-taking, worth every step and climb to get there. So vast. So consuming. The wilderness – it can never be conquered, never mastered. It’s where we find the end of ourselves, where we find our true need for God. The wilderness – what a place to run to God. Yet, how often do I blame Him for me being in one? May we all learn to run to God in our wilderness. May we learn to reach out in community during those times. God has bestowed His unlimited resources to us all to navigate the paths on which He leads. And when those paths lead to wilderness, at times, a needed resource is the strength of another who resides in His Bet-Ab.

Tonight, we sleep in Mizpe Ramon, a town situated beside a large crater in the wilderness. We have two days remaining in the desert. May we run to God and to our community in times of need. For when we are weak, we are strong.

Prayer Requests:

1. Please pray for us to rest and find moments of rest and reflection in this incredible experiential learning experience.
2. Please pray for physical health and our bodies to work as God intends.
3. Please pray for God to speak to each of us personally while we are in the wilderness.

—Kimm Hackworth