Lessons from Israel: En Gedi

En Gedi is an oasis in the desert.  In the midst of a dry and barren land, En Gedi is an explosion of lush green life.  For miles around, the landscape is rugged and brown. The Dead Sea itself sits just a few miles from this oasis.  And yet here, surrounded by rocks and dried up earth, is a spring that flows down a ravine, refreshing this sliver of land and creating life in the most unexpected of places.  David used this as a hideout while being hunted by King Saul. It was a refuge from all his enemies and a beautiful reminder of God’s deliverance and provision.

What is your “En Gedi”?  Where do you find refuge when the world is harsh and cruel?  Perhaps it is in a spouse or a friend. Maybe you find God’s presence in a worship service or the promises He makes in His word.  It might be a walk in the woods or time on the beach. In the midst of this broken and hardscrabble world, God is still present. Expressions of His presence are there if we look for them.  Where is your En Gedi? Are you retreating there enough?