Day One: Tales of Faith and Conflict

Our Journey into the Shephelah!

Jet-lagged but excited, our first day of touring began today! We started at Yad Hashmonah, a biblical garden with many interactive locations to prime our pumps for what we will see during the rest of the tour. We saw olive presses and vineyards, figs and threshing floors, olive trees, and ritual baths. All preparing us for what we will find in the days to come

(Repleca Watchtower at Yad Hashmonah)

After our intro, day one of our tour focused on the Shephelah, which is the land between Israel and the Philistines. It is a borderland, a conflict zone filled with stories of God's people responding to hostile groups.

At Beth Shemesh, we stood amidst the remnants of an ancient city, contemplating the story of Samson. We talked about what it means to live in the land of conflict near people who oppose what you believe. We talked about the dangers of trusting our eyes more than our ears when it comes to God's work. We discussed Samson's unfaithfulness and how God still used him in spite of his disobedience. We even sang in an ancient cistern of God's faithfulness and provision

(Possible resting place of the Ark of the Covenant 1 Samuel 6).

Continuing our pilgrimage, we arrived at Azeikah overlooking the famous Valley of Elah, where the young shepherd David faced the mighty Goliath. We explored the story, witnessing an example of true faithfulness. Hearing and believing God's word in contrast with the fear from Saul (who was tall) and the other Israelites.

Our journey carried us to Maresha, an ancient city resonating with echoes of political intrigue and power struggles. We saw burial caves and stone quarries and learned about the Phoenicians and Idumeans. Both influential people groups for their own reasons, both of whom share many stories with the people of Israel. We wandered through the remnants of this city, especially through figures like Jezebel and King Herod.

(Stone Quarry/Cave in Maresha)

(Phonecian Burial Cave in Maresha (Fresca restored))

Our final stop for the day was Lachish, a poignant site to contemplate why Judah and Israel were exiled from the land. Gazing upon the ruins of Lachish, we were reminded of the choices made by God's people and the consequences they faced. We reflected on what went wrong and perhaps pondered how we are not guaranteed blessing simply because we call ourselves the people of God. We closed our study time with a reading from the Book of Lamentations.

(The Thrones of the Kings of Judah at Lachish)

We ask for your prayers for protection from the heat and that God may reveal Himself further to us. As our first day draws to a close, we are grateful for safe travels to this point and eager to immerse ourselves further in God's story!

Join us as we continue our trek through the Holy Land, unearthing the treasures of the ancient text and enriching our souls with the wisdom it imparts.

Beersheba awaits, ready to draw us back to the beginning of God's story, where we can learn what His mission was for Abraham and what it is for us! Stay tuned for more chapters in our journey!"