Lessons from Israel: People

As you think about the most exciting and significant moments in your life, you will no doubt remember the places they happened.  You will picture the scenes, the landscape, and the things you learned and enjoyed. This was so true of our time in Israel. I will never forget looking out over the Sea of Galilee from the top of Mt. Arbel.  I will always remember the view from Masada and standing on the mountainside where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. To walk where Jesus walked will shape me for the rest of my life.

But this amazing experience was steeply augmented by the people who accompanied me on this trip.  My family, first and foremost, will stand out as I share these memories with them. Our leaders, Dan and Evan, will continue to impact me through their powerful and insightful teaching.  But all the people on this pilgrimage - the Kuyper College students and other adults - have made this amazing journey all the sweeter. Jesus’ life and ministry was always about people. He came to redeem all of creation, but especially people.  I will hold my fellow travelers in my heart as firmly as the sights and sounds. And to all my friends at FCC, thank you for making this possible. You were there as well - in my heart!

Lessons from Israel: Bethlehem

This photo was taken deep inside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.  It is traditionally the exact spot where Jesus came into this world. At the time, there was no ornate candle holders, expensive cloth, or marble floor.  On the day we visited this site there were long lines and crowds of people. People from all over the world had come to see the place where Jesus was born.  

There’s no debate that the incarnation was among the most powerful event in history.  The union of divinity and humanity is of greatest importance for us and our salvation.  But I fear it is far too easy to celebrate this event, and far too difficult to embrace its power.  A person can make a pilgrimage to this site and imagine that holy moment. A person can trim a Christmas tree and buy gifts for loved ones.  But a life that embraces the power of the incarnation is a deeper level of commitment. Jesus is looking for followers, not just celebrants. He requests a commitment to his kingdom, not just to the event that announced its coming.

Lessons from Israel: Herodian

Herod the Great was an extremely paranoid man.  He is famous for the elaborate and extensive building projects that he initiated.  But most of those building programs were born out of his paranoia. Masada, the great fortress near the Dead Sea, was created as a buttress against the threat of revolt.  Another place of escape was called Herodian. This was a mountain that Herod created. Yes, he built a mountain! Inside were all the luxuries of a four-star hotel. Herod would be protected in style.  From this lofty perch, Herod could see any enemies advancing against him. Yet under his nose, in plain view from Herodian, the King of the universe was born a few miles away in Bethlehem.

Governments and leaders and earthly regimes cannot interfere with God’s plans.  In fact, more often than not, they unwittingly cooperate with God’s purposes. As I look out at our nation and see the current political turmoil, I find great consolation here: the Messiah was born into a world whose rulers wanted him dead.  As I look out at our world and see wars, threats, and unrest, I am filled with hope by this: every effort to kill Jesus and his movement resulted in the spread of salvation and the Gospel. Therefore, I will choose hope and faith in the midst of frightening current events.  God’s plan has yet to be thwarted by human will or ambition.

Lessons from Israel: Bethesda

There was a pool on the outskirts of Jerusalem that was said to have healing powers.  A sick or disabled person could find healing if they were able to slip into the pool when there was a disturbance in the water.  One man had been sitting beside this pool for years, hoping to get into the waters at just the right time and cure his inability to walk.  It was like buying a lottery ticket every day and hoping eventually your numbers would come up. After years without success, Jesus happens by and asks this man, “Do you want to get well?”  It seemed like a silly question. Of course he did. He just needed someone to help him into the pool at the right time. Rather than wait for that right time, Jesus simply heals him on the spot.

Healing comes from God.  Whether it happens through prayer and the laying on of hands or a doctor’s skill or a pool on the outskirts of town, God is the one who heals.  This story also reminds us that healing is on God’s timetable, not ours. I can’t tell you why God let this man wait years before giving him the use of his legs.  But I can tell you that it was perfect. I can tell you that God achieved everything he wanted to achieve through the manner and timing of this healing. You may be waiting for healing in your life.  In the face of that wait, it is easy to grow discouraged. Let faith remind you of this: your healing will be perfect. It will come at a time and in a way that will accomplish more in your life and in the world than you can even imagine.

Lessons from Israel: The Western Wall

One of the most famous sites in Jerusalem is the Western Wall.  It is the last remnant of Herod’s temple that Jewish people have access to.  The rest of the temple mount is under Muslim control and is off limits to Jews.  So Jewish people from around the world gather at the Western Wall to pray. It is the most sacred place in the world for adherents to Judaism.

Israel and Palestine is often called “The Holy Land.”  I get that. It is remarkable and sometimes overwhelming to realize that Jesus and Paul and the patriarchs walked in these very places.  But the truth is that the place you are sitting right now is no less holy that any site in Israel. Jesus had a conversation about this with a Samaritan woman.  In John 4, he says, “true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” As followers of Jesus, God lives in us.  He is not confined to a region or a place. He is just as powerfully in your home, school, or workplace as he is in Jerusalem or by the Sea of Galilee. It is an amazing experience to walk where Jesus walked.  It’s just as amazing to realize that Jesus is walking with you today right where you are.

Lessons from Israel: Mt. Carmel

Mt. Carmel is a lush, green mountain in central Israel.  Bumper crops grow on its banks. Trees cover it all the way to the summit.  During the time of Elijah, when there had been no rain for three years, it was probably one of the last green places in all of Israel.  Baal was the god of rain and fertility. Baal made crops grow and watered vegetation. The classic showdown in 1 Kings 18 between God and Baal takes place in Baal’s last stronghold.  This was home field advantage for Baal. If you know the story, then you know that God whips Baal in his own house with a decisive victory on Mt. Carmel.

Sometimes I feel like this world isn’t set up for God to be victorious.  It plays by a different set of rules. Our economy is largely based on greed and consumption, which feed each other in an endless cycle.  Power is the greatest acquisition a person can make. Wealth is a close second. The values of God’s kingdom just don’t play in this environment.  But remember Mt. Carmel. This world never stopped belonging to God. Whatever game is played, God controls the board. He can win on the world’s home field.  As the hymn says, “Though the wrong seems oft’ so strong, God is the ruler yet.”

Lessons from Israel: Nazareth

One of the more well-known sayings of the Bible is that “a prophet is without honor only in his hometown.”  Jesus actually said this when he visited his hometown of Nazareth after being away for several years. At first he was welcomed back to Nazareth.  Luke 4 tells us that people spoke well of him. But then something happened. Jesus broke their mold. He stopped being Joseph’s nice boy and started being the Messiah.  It was more than they could handle. The picture below is the cliff at the edge of town. Tradition has it that this is the precipice that they tried to throw Jesus off of.

Most of us have been around Jesus for many years.  In some ways, he’s become familiar to us. We know the stories.  We’re used to being with him at church. He’s familiar to us. And sometimes this prevents us from accepting the new things he wants to do in our lives.  We resist the new work that Jesus wants to do within us. But Jesus continues to break molds. If we will receive him as he is, he will live and move among us.  If we embrace him as he comes to us, we will see miracles.

Lessons from Israel: Tel Dan

In the Old Testament, when God led his people into the promised land, each tribe of Israel was given a section of land in which to live.  The tribe of Dan was originally given a section of land that extended from the Mediterranean Sea toward Jerusalem. However, they discovered a better area in the north and moved there instead.  It was a fertile land with plenty of water - everything they needed to thrive. Along the way they also discovered some idols. They appointed a priest to serve them as they worshipped these idols.  The disobedience in this sad story is off the charts. They said “no, thanks” to the land God graciously gave them. Then they said “no, thanks” to the God who offered to bless and protect them.

In our world today discontent drives us.  The entire marketing industry is based on discontent.  We are encouraged to trade up any chance we get. And sometimes God is blessing us through these opportunities.  But other times we are trading away the very thing God wants to bless us with and through. For the tribe of Dan, they gained prosperity in the immediate future.  They found only destruction farther down the road. In a world that pushes us to trade up, sometimes the best deal is the one we currently have. Sometimes, that’s the one that God has given to us, and the place where, in the end, his richest blessings are found.

Lessons from Israel: Caesarea Philippi

One of the most lush and fertile places in all of Palestine is the village of Caesarea Philippi.  Located north of the Sea of Galilee, it is part of the watershed that feeds the Jordan Valley. Water pours out from underground rivers and aquifers.  In a land where water is the most sought after commodity, Caesarea Philippi is a place of abundance. In a society where Ba’al was the god of water and fertility, it was also a capitol for Ba’al worship.  Worshipping this deity involved unmentionable acts of debauchery and sexual immorality. It is interesting and curious that Jesus would take his disciples to this immoral place. Yet in Matthew 16:13-20, in the midst of idolatry and evil, Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”  Peter famously confesses that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.

It can be easy enough to make our confession in a church service, a LifeGroup meeting, or with other Christians.  Sometimes God calls us to places where evil and brokenness abound. Sometimes God leads us to places of pain and despair where it seems impossible to see his work or activity.  It is in those places that we can most powerfully confess the lordship of Jesus. He came to be the Lord of everything, not just of church services and Christians. Jesus is Lord in Vegas.  He is Lord in taverns and strip clubs. He is Lord on the streets where junkies and prostitutes live and work. Jesus isn’t afraid of those places. And sometimes he takes us there, shows us the brokenness, and asks us the same question he asked Peter: “Who do you say that I am?”  The next time you encounter despair or immorality or hurt, you can stand with Peter and answer confidently. Jesus is Lord in Caesarea Philippi. He is Lord of all.

Lessons from Israel: Gamla

Our family trip to Israel was a powerful spiritual experience for many reasons.  We walked where Jesus walked. We saw the very places where the events of the Bible took place.  Those events came alive to us in fresh ways. We gained insight into the world to which Jesus announced the kingdom of God.  These are all the ways that I anticipated growing and learning. But one way that I experienced God that surprised me: I was moved by the beautiful scenery in this part of the world.  Israel is an amazingly beautiful part of God’s creation! Just prior to going to Israel, I spent several days on the Appalachian Trail. I thought that trip would be the scenic highlight of my sabbatical.  Sorry, but even Grayson Highlands on the AT can’t hold a candle to the rugged beauty of Israel.

This is a picture of an ancient town called Gamla.  “Gamla” comes from the Hebrew word for camel. You can see the ridge of this town looks like a camel’s hump.  The view from this town in the Golan Heights is breathtaking. It sits between two plateaus with the Sea of Galilee in the distance.  There was a synagogue in Gamla during Jesus’ time. It’s quite likely that Jesus visited this place. However, it is undeniable that God blessed this place with an amazing beauty.  I experienced him here in the beauty of his creation as much as anywhere on our trip.

Lessons from Israel: Magdala

The Gospels never specifically refer to a small village on the Sea of Galilee called Magdala.  Yet we know Jesus had a great deal of influence there. It’s almost certain he visited this town frequently.  It’s claim to fame is a lady named Mary. You know her as Mary Magdalene - “Mary from Magdala.” Jesus cast seven demons out of her.  She, in turn, supported Jesus and his ministry in practical ways. While modern conspiracy theories have Jesus romantically involved with her, Mary was probably an older lady who was a mother figure to Jesus and his disciples.

Today Magdala is a museum designed to draw our attention to the role of women in the Bible.  As I watched my wife and daughters walk through the ancient village, I thought of how Jesus valued women far beyond the culture in which he lived.  I thought of the way women were created by God to be full participants in his kingdom. Jesus empowered women to join him in unprecedented ways. He understood that God means to do his work just as much through women as men.  Below is a beautiful mural in the chapel at Magdala. It is a depiction of Jesus compassion for a suffering woman. Do you know which story this is?

Lessons from Israel: Mt. Arbel

Of all the knowledge I gained in Israel, one of the most important insights is scale.  We live in a large state in a very large country.  I guess I’ve naturally and subconsciously imagined Israel on the same scale.  When Jesus traveled from one town to another, I assumed that he was going from Grand Rapids to Detroit, or from Grand Haven to Chicago.  The reality is much different. The towns and villages that became the seat of Jesus’ ministry were nearly within shouting distance of each other.  Capernaum, Korazin, and Bethsaida are three villages known as “The Jesus Triangle.” Jesus spent about 90% of his ministry in these three towns. They are all within a five mile radius of each other.  An easy and accurate parallel is to think of our own tri-cities. The top photo below is a picture of the north end of the Sea of Galilee from Mt. Arbel. The second photo is zoomed in on the area where Jesus spent the vast majority of his ministry.

It helps me realize that I don’t have to travel extensively to serve God.  Often it is a sustained and faithful service in one small area that creates the most impact.  When you think about serving God, do you typically imagine going someplace else to do it? Do you believe faithful service involves extensive travel?  While Jesus took a few “mission trips” in his life, he was focused on one small area in God’s vast earth. God has put us where we are for a reason. Be faithful where you’ve been placed and don’t underestimate the impact your life can have there.

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?

Lessons from Israel: Masada

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Israel is the mountain top fortress of Masada.  Herod the Great turned this mountaintop into a secure stronghold and built two palaces for himself complete with indoor baths and an outdoor swimming pool.  It features sweeping views of the mountains of Moab, the Dead Sea, and the Judean hills. Herod built this fortress as a place of refuge in case of a revolt.  Here he would be safe from attack and able to hold out against any enemy. Years later, Masada became a last resort for a group of Jewish rebels. The Roman Army besieged Masada and built a ramp by which they gained access to the fortress.

Like Herod, we build Masadas in our lives.  We believe that our savings or IRA will be our fortress.  We look to our career as a source of security. Our skills become a stronghold against unemployment.  Good grades become a refuge for us. But just as surely as Masada was defeated, our wealth, skill, and intelligence cannot save us.  The only true refuge, the only unconquerable fortress is the Lord our God. We say with the psalmist “The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (46:7)”

Lessons from Israel: Arad

Arad is an ancient site in the desert of southern Israel.  It served as a military and trade outpost and was built on a high hill.  After the original city was destroyed by the Israelites, it was rebuilt and settled by the tribe of Judah.  One of the unique features of the city was a replica of the temple. Apparently the people of Arad used this as a place to worship God.  But archaeology reveals that the Lord isn’t the only one they worshipped. In the most holy place of their replica temple, archaeologists found a sacred stone - a large, flat rock that was a symbol of other gods like Baal and Asherah.  It’s a terrible irony that God’s people would worship other gods in a structure and space that was reserved only for him. 

Take a look into the most holy place of your heart.  What do you see there? That space is reserved for God alone.  But often we find other sacred stones there. Careers, hobbies, sports, even family.  There is certainly a place in your life for these things. Just not in the most holy place.  That space is reserved for God alone. If anything in your life is out of synch, a good first step is looking at what, besides God, is in that space.

Lessons from Israel: Valley of Elah

The Valley of Elah is the site of one of the most famous battles in history.  Here took place a duel between a massive giant named Goliath and a barely-armed teenager named David.  What we often lose sight of is that this was more than a battle of two nations. It was more than a conflict between two armies.  It was a spiritual battle. Goliath was talking spiritual trash about the God of Israel. David, who had not been subject to weeks of intimidation by Goliath, understood this.  They weren’t just fighting over a piece of land. As David moves in to strike the fatal blow, he says, “For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand.”

There is always a spiritual component to the battles we fight in life.  As we struggle with sin or emotional wounds or other challenges, we are settling an age old question: Is our God stronger?  David knew that the Lord was indeed stronger than Goliath and the Philistine army. And so he let God fight the battle for him.  Whatever valley you find yourself fighting in, remember that the battle is the Lord’s. He is stronger than your sin, your pain, your brokenness.  You may not stand a chance against these enemies. But Jesus has conquered the ultimate enemy, death. The victory you seek has already been won in Jesus name.

Lessons from Israel: Beth Shemesh

Beth Shemesh is an Israelite town about 15 miles west of Jerusalem.  We visited here on our first full day in Israel. I have to admit that prior to this trip I thought of Israel much like Tolkien’s middle earth: a magical, otherworldly place where unlikely things happened.  A place very different from our own. As we stood looking across a valley, our guide casually said, “See that mountainside across the valley? That’s where Samson lived.” He went on to mention that this valley was the one Samson lit on fire using an interesting combination of foxes and torches.

The mighty acts of God are not confined to a specific geography. In the Bible, God did powerful things in a land of rocks and dirt and trees and hills and valleys. He did his mighty acts among people - ordinary people who witnessed God doing extraordinary things. Beth Shemesh taught me that I can expect God to move in powerful ways in West Michigan among ordinary people like us. God’s power may be revealed in different ways and through different resources. But it is the same God and the same power. Keep your eyes peeled!