We see the hand of God everywhere we look.
In most places we close our eyes to envision Jesus, but here you need to open them.
Our morning began with a “float” in the Dead Sea. It’s amazing the buoyancy of this sea. Our journey continued to Masada, the mountain fortress where 960 Jewish defenders organized their last resistance against the Roman conquerors and eventually took their own lives rather than surrender into slavery. Masada is a symbol of courage and perseverance for Jewish nationalism. It is an incredibly well designed fortress with ancient “air conditioning” and water supply system.
Next we went to Ein Gedi where David hid from King Saul (I Samuel 23:29-24:22). It is an Oasis in the middle of the desert. The river flows from powerful springs and the animals were abundant. Ibex, goats, birds and coney were running all around. Psalm 42:1 comes to mind in this majestic Oasis: “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God.” That is my prayer for each of us and you reading this blog. May we all seek the Lord with a fresh thirst for His will for our lives!
Following Ein Gedi we visited Qumran where the “Dead Sea Scrolls” were found. There were many purchases of the special lotions, ointments and other souvenirs at the gift store. We drove as it became dark up to Tiberius on the Sea of Galilee.
After dinner we went out on a night boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. What a sacred time of prayer, worship and the Word floating on the Sea which Jesus walked upon. The Israeli boat crew was so moved by our worship and prayers that they allowed us stay out for one hour forty five minutes—it was supposed to be only one hour. In most places we close our eyes to envision Jesus, but here you need to open them.
Pastor Rod Akins' Blog 