Day 9

We heard this hostel was going to be a bit sketchy, but we’ve had great food, an internet connection. On the downside, we have two single beds and a bathroom that I can stand in the center of the room and touch all four walls at the same time (and I can't even stretch my arms out fully to do it). It sort of reminds me of my room growing up! Today was a busy and hot day. We are on the south west part of Israel. Tonight we are staying in Be’er Sheva “well of the oath”, which is the fourth largest city in Israel. It is where Abraham dug a well in Genesis 21:22-34 when Abraham made a treaty with Abimelech to deal honestly with each other. Unfortunately when we went to go look at the well tonight, they were building a visitor center over the top of it so it was all closed.

We went to an amphitheater, where some of the gladiators fought during the Roman era, around the second century. The town itself has a Greek name (Eleutheropolis) as well as a Hebrew name, but the Hebrew name is Bet Givran or land of the strong men (probably named after the gladiator games in the city). The amphitheater was right next to a gas station restaurant, and didn’t really have any significance, but it was reconstructed and did look pretty cool. We also stopped off at an awesome chalk cave that was dug out by hand for building materials about 700 years ago. One of the Rambo movies had a scene filmed there. It was massive. The chalk and limestone is fairly soft, so for centuries people have been carving out cave shelters for protection in these regions. David and his mighty men probably stayed in smaller caves near these areas in Adullum and Keilah.

Our favorite part was standing in Azekah on a hill in the Elah Valley. We were looking out at Ephes Dammim and Succoh. I had the privilege of reading aloud the entire David and Goliath account from 1 Samuel 17. The story really came alive as we were staring at the valley of the battle and reading the David and Goliath account. We picked up some smooth stones from the stream that runs through that area, just like David (the stream only has water running through it in the winter though, because winter is the rainy season in that region). It is great that nearly everybody has heard the David and Goliath story, since in 1 Samuel 17:46-47 is an exclamation from David that the outcome of the battle will proclaim that the God of Israel is alive and well. Since Goliath was continually mocking the Israelites and their God and then some non-military trained boy came out with a sling and five stones (which for the record, was a great weapon for mid-range fighting – whereas Goliath was using weapons for close-range combat). All throughout this story, David’s confidence was not in his stuff or weaponry. It was not in his abilities. It was not in his experience. Sure, David had potential, but his confidence was in his faith in God. The Philistines wanted to destroy the people of Israel and take over their land, but David knew that God made a promise to Israel through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob… (among others), that Israel would be blessed and through them many nations would be blessed. David had faith that God would continue that promise through him (since he was anointed by Samuel two chapters before and promised to be the king of Israel). For David, the struggle was big, but God is bigger. What are the struggles in your life? Are the things you’re fighting for in life aligned with God’s desires? For David, he knew God’s plans, the plans to prosper the people of Israel and bless other nations through them. David knew that God was with him in battle because David knew God’s promises and he stood up for God’s purposes. If you know God’s promises for your life and stand up for God’s purposes as you deal with the big struggles in life then you will have victory amidst the big struggles. When this happens, just like in David’s case, God’s name is praised throughout the land.

Here is a picture of us on Azekah looking over the Elah Valley. Just to the right of our heads was probably the spot that David took out Goliath.