Travel Day & Day 1

After a long day of travel we arrived in Tel Aviv at 9:30 this morning tired but excited to be in Israel. Within thirty minutes we were standing on the sight of Sampson’s hometown – Beth Shemesh. As we look out from his hometown I was struck by just how close the Philistine’s lived to Sampson. Seeing just how close everything is already reshaping my view of the Bible.

From there we continued onto Azekah to look out over the field where David fought Goliath. We read the passage of David and Goliath as we looked out over the field, then we went down not the field and found what many believe to be the same stream he picked out his five stones from. We all grabbed a stone from the small creek and talked about the courage David had to stand up for God and how this rock should remind us how we can stand up for God. Many of the students said this was a highlight of the day.

After a short stop for lunch we found ourselves in standing in a cistern like the one that Jospeph’s brothers threw him into while they waited to sell him into slavery. As we stood at the bottom the the cistern, our guide – Ronan - did an amazing job teaching us about how towns away from a water source had to dig these deep cisterns to catch water in order to sustain the town. Many of the students commented on how they always wondered why Joseph didn’t just climb out of the cistern, but now having stood in one ourselves we have a small idea of just how helpless he must have felt.

One of the highlights for everyone was just down the road where we walked into a huge cave and read through some of the writings of King David as he we on the run from Saul. Sitting in the cave we were challenged to reflect on the people in our lives who find us in those times and walk along side us; a good thought as we fanned out and explored the cave together.

After several stops, a lot of tired students, and a handful of amazing sights we checked into our hotel right on the coast of the Dead Sea and then many of the students went for a float in the water. It really is something to experience.

Already God is reshaping or view of Scripture. I am excited for the work that God has begun today in the lives of your students and I am excited to see what God will continue to do. Keep praying for God to move in a mighty way.

God Bless.