Israel, Why Go?
We have this ancient text that has a place of honor in our home. When we rise in the morning, we open it for our daily devotional. It comforts us in times of need. We read and study its pages for answers and inspiration.
We know in our hearts and minds this is the inspired word of the One and only True Living God, given to man thousands of years ago. Words to comfort and reassure us till He returns. So we study. We attend services and classes to hear this word dissected by our pastor and teachers. But in Israel, the stage for the majority of this ancient book, we have a visual picture that no artist dead or alive could re-create.
From waking the first day in Nof Ginosar and watching the sunrise over the Sea of Galilee to ending our tour watching the sun set at Caesarea on the Mediterranean Sea, God was revealing Himself and the wonder of His plans through His word with the marvelous interpretations from our Tour Guide, Hal Ronning.
From Masada to Megiddo you know that you were standing where it began and where, when Jesus returns, it will end for the Old Jerusalem. Only to see a new and glorious beginning for the New Jerusalem.
Arrive at the Mount of Olives and view the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus spent so many hours after leaving the Temple. Beautiful ancient Olive trees that shaded Our Savior as he prayed. Then look down toward Jerusalem. You will see above ground graveyards with large concrete graves. The Jews are buried in the one closest to the Mount of Olives. Then there is an area for Muslims graves and an area for Christians. Separate and yet so close together.
Beyond the concrete graves you see shining in the sun, the Dome of the Rock. The walls of the City of Old Jerusalem surround the Dome. Following the road Jesus walked on Palm Sunday from the Mount of Olives to the City of Jerusalem you had a perspective on distance and time Jesus had to share with everyone along the way.
Our visit to the Garden Tomb, where Jesus was placed was made more profound as we remembered the common bone boxes in carved out rock. There is a small chapel near the Garden Tomb you can enter for quiet worship and remembrance that a miracle occurred here. Michael Kubosh read from this ancient text and we shared communion together.
We were Baptized in the Jordan River while groups stood on the steps above lifting their arms toward heaven singing hymns of praise. We floated in the Dead Sea and covered ourselves in the healing mud and we visited Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Some rode camels and all marched in a parade down a main street under the Flag of the United States of America flanked on each side by sweet and loving people waving, blowing kisses and singing God Bless America.
We visited the Pools of Bethesda, Calvary, Bethlehem and Old Jerusalem. Everywhere we went, beautiful churches and cathedrals were erected over or near these holy places. Jesus is remembered, thought of and spoken of in this country every minute of every day. And we were blessed to be there and absorb the love and spirit of this place into our very being. We were not strangers in this land. As the sign in the Ben Gurion Airport stated, “Welcome Home.”
Man cannot properly express with words the feeling you have seeing this land.
Your emotions leap from joy viewing the eternal flame at the Memorial to where Jesus was born in Bethlehem to humble reverence where Jesus was crucified for the sins of everyone. You are changed forever being there. You are renewed in a way that makes you want to sing and dance and praise The Lord from sunrise to sunset.
All in our tour were humbled and grieved over Yad Vesham (The Holocaust Museum). It was distressing to visually witness the horrors that were inflicted upon these sweet victims of their birthright.
If you go during Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement, a day set aside for fasting, depriving oneself of pleasures, and repenting from the sins of the previous year), Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) or any other day of the year, just go. Go without fear, go expecting a blessing, go with anticipation. But most of all, just GO.
We left Houston September 24, 2007 acquaintances, and returned October 5, 2007 a Family.
By Kay Smith
Link to website with pictures of the trip:
http://web.mac.com/jacqueline.foster/iWeb/Site
Class Members In Attendance:
Debbie & Mike Riddle
Carolyn Lanier
Yvette Smith
Chris Kramer
Jacqueline Foster
Kay Smith
Kathryn Lanier
Linda Patterson
Barbara Terry
James Hendricks
Belinda Bellar
Walter Robin
Dale & Carrie Hearn
Becky Krenek
Glenda & Michael Kubosh
Brenda & Len Nelms
Hal Ronning – Tour Guide
David Langer – Tour Driver
