The Promised Land from Masada

Not exactly what we expected, is it?

8RW_1591

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Michael C

Frankly, that scene doesn’t look very promising. On the other hand, is a barren land a great landscape to recognize our need of YHVH? Is a desert, a place where all our seemingly needed frivolities are removed, simply a place striped of all our actual encumbrances to a close walk with him?

Sometimes I yearn to walk in a deserted place. Walking from room to room in my house becomes very burdensome at times, cluttered with things I think should comfort me but lack something to do so.

Closing my eyes and stepping in to that closet of prayer gives me peaceful pause from the chaos, disarray and angst that oppressively presses in so much of the time.

Stepping in to the desert would seem to strip all but the essentials of life away. Struggling simply to breath, live and take another step can be strangely satisfying. Real accomplishment. The simplicity of life has been unduly complicated these days, it seems. Just look at the internet. Way too much stuff to sift. The endless and ‘unimaginable’ trait of the universe isn’t hard, just look at what’s available on the web.

Anyway . . . back to figuring out “my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” I’m in need of some soul rest.

Easy yokes? I’ll take two, please.

Michael C

That would be an interesting and expanding experience, I’m sure.

monica

just like the dry bones,came to life at his command so also this dry land will be flourishing again at his command, all in the fathers time. his word is truth

LRSantos

Could the land have been diffrent back then?

Gideon du Plessis

The desertland of Israel is so purposefully chosen for the people of Israel and anybody believing in God that should have the opportunity to visit the Negev. It is like your hand picked enemies. Very negative and very positive.One experiences the vastness of something that is alien to you but really very near to you. The dust, the sun, the sweat, the silence, your own heartbeat, the fear, the uncertainty but the presence of something greater than the surrounding coming to you at the right moment. Like the water that suddenly appears from under a rock !
Everything there talks of the greatness of God – from the smallest desert rose to the majestic multicolored mountains of Timna. Riding on the back of a camel up the pass of Akkarabin brings you in direct contact with the God that set the boundaries of the Promised land. There one knows the presence of God ; your dependence on Him for life and the positive meaning of adversary to bring that relationship between you and God and you and your neighbour in the perspective that God had in his purpose.
Visit Mispe Ramon and sit on the edge of the crater. Everything speaks directly to you. Maybe you will be lucky to experience an eastern wind and dust storm to bring you to full grips of this experience

laurita hayes

Thank you, Gideon! I want to go! When my children were young, we spent many long hours watching every thing we could get our hands on in the realm of nature film, but when we watched a series on the Negev, every child came up to me at some point later and informed me that when they grew up, they were going to live in the Negev! Of all the places on the planet! They couldn’t get enough of it. The awe of the place is just incredible.

Ester

I didn’t remember seeing that part of the desert, probably too captivated by the sight of the mountain. We were there just as the sun was setting and the mountain glowed like gold! It was the last trip by cable car up, and we were told we had to climb all the way down, if we really desire to be up. No way we were to miss out going to the top and having that breath-taking view!
Our group hardly noticed the steepness of the climb down, we were so exhilarated, we even enjoyed the climb down, and laughing all the way.
It was an experience of a lifetime.
Such an awesome place of courage and inspiration.
Thank you for bringing back beautiful nostalgia, Skip.
Shalom.