After a rest in the air conditioned gift shop at Masada – we were all back on the bus to drive north to visit En Gedi. This beautiful narrow green crevice in the dry brown canyons of the desert was where David hid out from Saul, and later confronted Saul in a cave. A beautiful waterfall is reached by hiking up a narrow path along a stream. Wild deer and rock badgers are frequently seen along the way. I have seen this site several times, but to be honest – I did not take this hike today. Two of us stayed in the shade of some date palm trees at the gift shop. I know my limits, after the hike up Masada several hours ago, I want to be healthy for the next few days in Jerusalem.
We drive ‘up to Jerusalem.’ Along the way we meet the crush of modern day traffic – yet along the side of the road are camps of Bedouin with their goat herds….modern day nomads that still live in tents and are much like the families of Abraham and Jacob. Israel provides education for the children, medial care and tanks of water for each site. I think the men are required to serve in the military (as are all Israeli men and women at the age of 18.)
Oh Jerusalem….our next stop. Of all the sites in Jerusalem, for me, one of the most moving is the moment our bus exits a tunnel, and turns into the modern city of Jerusalem. The temple mount area with the gleaming, golden, Dome of the Rock is an awesome site. I do not venerate the Dome of the Rock (a Muslim mosque)– but this beautiful site is where the Holy Temples of Israel stood so long ago. God lived among men on this site! WOW!
The Temple Mount is also where Abraham prepared to offer up Isaac, where Jesus walked and talked, and where Solomon ruled, as did all the Kings (and Queen Athaliah) of Israel. God calls that this center of the world, His “Holy City.”... this is where the Third Temple, and later, the New Jerusalem will be built!!! The most important piece of real estate on the planet….and here I am seeing it again!! (I know that in a day or two I will probably get to actually walk on the Temple Mount.)
We stop at an overlook of Mount Scopas and enjoy the view for a few minutes. From our vantage point we can see the Mount of Olives, Kidron Valley, several churches, the walls of the Temple Mount, The Dome of the Rock, and a large portion of the modern city of Jerusalem. Behind us is the Hebrew University.
It has been a long and tiring day but we are in Jerusalem. What a blessing!
Thank You God for another trip to Israel.
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