Day 6: Hidden in the Wilderness

"Build up, build up the highway"

Our time in the fertile northern region of the Holy Land has offered us some spectacular sites and breathtaking views. Heading south through the Jordan River Valley towards the Judean Desert the landscape begins to change as we begin to approach the Dead Sea region. We pass by Jericho, the oldest city in the Holy Land, blanketed with green vegetation it stands out against the desert landscape. It was this city that Joshua and the Israelites conquered upon entry into the Promised Land (Joshua 3:14-16); and it was here that Jesus met Zacchaeus, calling him down from one of the trees in this "City of Palms" (Luke 19:1-10).

Our first stop on the northwest shore of the Dead Sea is Qum'ran. A small settlement lived here during the time of Christ; but it was the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947 that gave the area notoriety. A Jewish sect, the Essenes, were thought to have lived here and were responsible for copying the Dead Sea Scrolls. They believed they were end-time saints who were called to the wilderness to prepare the way for the Lord. "A voice of one calling: 'In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God'" (Isaiah 40:3). When the Roman armies began to conquer the land, the Essenes placed the scrolls in jars and hid them in a cave, and then fled for safety in the stronghold at Massada.

The scrolls, discovered by Bedouins and archaeologists some two thousand years later, were wonderfully preserved because of the area’s arid climate. Considered the greatest archaeological find of the twentieth century, this collection of documents included the books of the Hebrew Bible, including the entire book of Isaiah. "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope" (Romans 15:4). The Lord, in His infinite wisdom, is always revealing Himself in His creation, there are wonderful secrets to be uncovered if we are willing to take the time to dig. "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings" (Proverbs 25:2). His desire is that all men come to the knowledge of His truth so that they might be saved, His Word is not meant to be hidden it is meant to be carried on the wing and deposited in the hearts of men (Isaiah 55:11; 2 Corinthians 3:3). "There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known" (Matthew 10:26b). One of the wonderful blessings of walking through the Holy Land is the way the Word of God leaps off the pages of the Bible with a profound sense of newness.

Speaking of leaping, our next stop is in the "spring of the wild goat," En Gedi, another beautiful desert oasis located on the western shore of the Dead Sea. David fled here to hide from Saul. "After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, 'David is in the Desert of En Gedi.' So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and set out to looks for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats" (1 Samuel 24:1-2). Saul was in pursuit of David to kill him, but it would be David who would resist the opportunity to take Saul's life and spares him instead. "He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave...Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe" (1 Samuel 24:3, 4b).

Feeling guilty for his actions David came out of hiding and confronted Saul. "May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you...May the LORD be our judge and decide between us. May He consider my cause and uphold it; may He vindicate me by delivering me from your hand" (1 Samuel 24:12, 15). David, had been anointed to replace Saul as king, but he knew better than to take the matter into his own hands. God's purposes would prevail at the appointed time. This little hiding expedition only brought to light the level of David's character in contrast to Saul's. Realizing who he was dealing with, David and his men took greater precautions and continued on to the stronghold at Massada, just south of En Gedi (1 Samuel 24:22).

Massada is a natural mesa overlooking the western shore of the Dead Sea. From its location in the Judean Desert it is completely cut off from civilization, making it an ideal fortress and hide-out. Herod the Great built a winter palace here and surrounded it with an eighteen-foot high wall, making it impenetrable. The Essenes, from Qum'ran fled here to join the Jewish "zealots" as they took their final stand against Rome in AD 70. After a three-year long standoff the 960 men, women, and children, who were living here, took their own lives, choosing to commit mass suicide rather than face a life of slavery.

The Dead Sea region is the lowest point on the earth's surface and has seen some of the lowest points in history along its shores; to which Massada stands in tribute. It was here that God rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah; and where Lot's wife looked back and became a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:24-26); the armies of Moab, Ammon, and Edom crossed the Dead Sea to lay siege on Jerusalem, when King Jehoshaphat sought the help of the Lord and God intervened giving them victory. "A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea...Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all of Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek Him...When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped" (2 Chronicles 20:2-4, 24).

The Dead Sea is just that, dead; because of its' high mineral content it sustains no vegetable or animal life. It is here that Israel's enemies would be driven into the sea: "I will drive the northern army far from you, pushing it into a parched and barren land, with its front columns going into the eastern sea (Dead Sea) and those in the rear to the western sea (Mediterranean). And its stench will go up; its smell will rise" (Joel 2:20). And it will be here, when the Lord returns, the land will be restored to an Eden-like state and the water will be alive with sea life. "...This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah (Jordan Valley), where it enters the Sea (Dead Sea). When it empties into the Sea the water there becomes fresh. Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be many kinds - like the fish of the Great Sea" (Ezekiel 47:8-10).

The Judean Wilderness, while providing strategic hiding places in history, has also provided great opportunities for discovery. Here, the Word of the Lord was uncovered and confirmed; the true "anointed" king was revealed for his character; and the faith of many was tested, whether in life or in death, their testimony remains. The caves, the hilltops, and desert echo their testimony of God's faithfulness. "A voice of one calling: 'In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken" (Isaiah 40:3-5).

Heavenly Father,

There is no place that we can run to

that is out from under Your watchful eye.

Your eyes range throughout the whole

earth to strengthen those whose hearts

are fully committed to You.

May we hide Your word in our hearts

so we won't sin against You;

but let us not keep them hidden from others,

instead let us share them so many can

come to Your salvation. Lord,

"utter hidden things, things from of old -

what we have heard and known,

what our fathers have told us. We will not

hide them from their children; we will tell

the next generation the praiseworthy deeds

of the LORD, His power and the wonders

He has done."

In Jesus' Name. Amen.

(2 Chronicles 16:9; Psalm 78:2-4; 119:11)

[My Israel journal, June 2008: "...we gathered under a structure at Massada, trying to find some shade from the hot sun bearing down upon us. There were no trees to cover us, but every now and then there was an amazing breeze that would take the edge off of the heat. We listened as our tour guide, Amir, shared with us the heroic and tragic story of the Jewish zealots who stood down the Roman armies and took their own lives rather than surrender and become slaves. He said that a jar was found behind a wall with the names on the lots that were cast for the order they would commit suicide. In addition the Scripture for Ezekiel 37 was found here: "Then He said to me, 'Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life...Prophesy to the breath...So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet - a vast army. Then He said to me: 'Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.' Therefore prophesy and say to them:...O My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel..." (Ezekiel 37:4-5, 9a, 10-12)].