Day 9: The Jordan Valley
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| Sunrise over the Old City as we depart for the North. |
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| Overlooking the Jordan Valley |
As we look at our itinerary*, we will be traveling through to the Jordan Valley, beginning in Tel Jericho, then to Mount Temptation, Qaser El Yehud baptismal site, Ein Harod, then to Nazareth, and finishing the day at the Sea of Galilee. (*itinerary is subject to change) This will be a wonderful and full day! I often like to walk through the devotional in the same order of the day, but today I would like to rearrange our study in mostly chronological order following the theme “The Deliverance of the LORD!”
Considering recent news in Israel, I am very humbled and prayerful as I write these words and reflect on the Word of the Lord concerning his people. The morning reading selected, Isaiah 52:7, was selected to call our attention to the beauty of the mountains in the Jordan Valley, but more importantly to the good news that “God reigns!”
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” (ESV)
This verse is beautiful and encouraging on its own, but take a few moments and read the whole chapter, especially as you consider the war that is happening right now.
This chapter is titled “The LORD’s Coming Salvation,” but that can be hard to hold on to when war is ravaging, family members are at risk or missing. Verse 1 says “put on your strength, O Zion.” May that be the case for Israel, and the world at this time.
Key Text: Isaiah 52:1-12
These words given by the prophet Isaiah are a word of encouragement and prophecy of God’s deliverance of his people. The call back to the time that God had rescued them from Egypt as an example of his future deliverance. God will buy back the captive and set them free. The Lord will fight the battle for his people:
Isaiah 52:10 – The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
This promise that God will deliver his people in such a way that the nations will know that it is God that acted on their behalf. The Lord will go before them and be their rearguard. As we read these words, let us pray that God remembers his people and his promise and acts mightily on their behalf. That the enemy will be defeated, and the hostages will be set free. Pray for Israel today! Pray in confidence knowing that the Lord will keep his promises and has demonstrated time and again his willingness and desire to rescue his people.
Isaiah 52:12b – for the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.
The LORD is before and behind us. In other words, He’s got us for all eternity and in the midst of current circumstances.
Key Text: Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Along with this promise of deliverance for God’s people, Isaiah draws our attention to the anointed one, the suffering servant, who would not only deliver the people physically, but deliver them from their sins.
Isaiah 53:6 – All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
This prophetic word reminds us of our desperate situation, that we are all sinners (Rom. 3:23). We live in a broken and fallen world. This week’s news about the war is just one example of the brokenness of this world. We have been praying for the ware in the Ukraine, the riots in America, the school shootings, and corruption in governments. We know of the pains of cancer, sickness, death, and broken relationships. Everywhere we turn we are reminded that something is not right, it’s not the way it should be. This is the cause that sin has on all of us. But God promised to send a deliver to take our sins upon himself and deliver us (Is. 53:5). Ultimate deliverance comes from being forgive of our sins and made right with God through his Son, Jesus Christ. But now we are jumping ahead.
Turning back a few pages from Isaiah, we will see an example of how God went “before” (Is. 53:12) his people to deliver them from the enemy.
Key Text: – Joshua 6:1-7, 15-21
Tel Jericho
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| Overlooking Tel Jericho, you can see the top of the mound in the back right |
As we approach Tel Jericho we will see a great mound of earth, a hill in the wilderness. Remember that “Tel” means “an ancient mound built up out of successive layers or strata of occupation.” Basically, a Tel is an ancient city that has been buried over the years and forgotten, only to be discovered once again by archeologists. Sometimes you can identify a Tel from a normal hillside by the shapes and contours of the mound. Other times, they are found by surprise. Tel Jericho reveals some amazing historical finds about ancient life. One find is that the ancient walls fell outward, not inward. Why would that be significant? An opposing army would use battering rams and force from the outside to knock down walls inward, but how could the pull the wall down outward? It would take a supernatural act! The walls at Tel Jericho fell outward and provide a ramp for the Israelites to destroy the city!
Joshua 6:17 - And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the LORD has given you the city.” |
As we pause at Tel Jericho, bless the Lord for his deliverance of his people! This action paved the way for the Conquest of the Promised Land for Joshua and the Israelites. The people entered and settled in the land of promise, but they did not experience the fulness of joy God had intended for them in the land. Sin once again disrupted the lives of the Israelites as described by cycles in the book of Judges. In brief, the cycles demonstrate how the people went from experiencing peace, to rebellion, then crying out for deliverance, God appoints a judge to deliver them, and establishes peace once again. Some label this the cycle of sin, as we can attest to in our own lives, but really these are stories of the cycle of God’s mercy and deliverance for his people. On this day we will consider one episode from the book of Judges, the story of Gideon.
Key Text: Judges 6-8
Ein Harod – Gideon’s Spring – Judges 7:1–2
Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him rose early and encamped beside the spring of Harod. And the camp of Midian was north of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. The LORD said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’”
You should really take a moment to read the full story of Gideon in Judges 6-8. We may stop at Ein Harod, the spring of Harod, also known as Gideon’s spring, if time permits. This is the very place where God divided the army of Gideon. Once again, the people of Israel are outnumbered and oppressed by an enemy. Gideon amasses an army to take on the Midianites before them. However, God says, “that too many”! God wanted Gideon and the people to know that it was not by their might, their power, or their skill that victory was one. It was the Lord who would deliver them.
As we encounter this spring and see the clear water, remember how God removed the excess to display his power and might over the enemy. Once again, let us pray for God to move to deliver his people today!
Key Text: Matthew 2:19-4:17
Nazareth – Matthew 2:19–23
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| A reenactment of a carpenter in Nazareth Village |
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| A vine dresser attending the grapes |
On this day we will enter Nazareth, the village where Jesus grew up. We will visit “Nazareth Village,” a recreation of a first century village. Nazareth Village was found in an excavation and the recreated the buildings and vineyard that was discovered. For those of us from Ohio, it is like Hale Farm, but much older! In this passage, we see that God moved Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus from Egypt to Nazareth to fulfill the prophecy concerning the Messiah. This is another example of God remembering and keeping his word to his people.
Brad standing in a recreation of a synagogue 
A new “shoot” from an olive tree.
Qaser El Yehud baptismal site – Matthew 3:13-17
***Some stops on our itinerary are in flux, so do not be surprised if this is moved to a different day or time***
The Jordan River, this is in the North by Galilee
On this stop, we will encounter a possible location of where John the Baptist baptized Jesus. If this is not exactly where it happened, it is close in proximity to the event, for John was baptizing people in the wilderness of Judea (Matt. 3:1). Baptism is a symbolic activity of identifying and declaring one’s faith. Jesus’ baptism was an initiation and inauguration for his public ministry. He told John that the reason he was being baptized was “to fulfill all righteousness.” Jesus never sinned and yet he was baptized. This helps us understand that baptism does not wash away our sins, only faith in Jesus Christ does. Baptism is a step of obedience and identification with Christ. Believers should be baptized to “fulfill all righteousness” as Jesus did.
As we stop at this baptismal site, you will have the opportunity to get baptized in the Jordan River. If this is something you would like to do, just let Cindy or I know so we can make sure we have sufficient time. There is a small fee to rent baptismal garments.
Having gone down into the waters of the Jordan River, when Jesus was baptized, we have one of the earliest examples of the Christian belief in the Triune God. The Son of God was baptized, the Father spoke a blessing over him, and the Spirit of God descended. This is a powerful picture of the nature of God, being three persons yet one essence. We see this description of God in the Great Commission Jesus left for his disciples (Matt. 28:16-20). This event signified Jesus as the Messiah who would deliver his people from their sins.
Mount Temptation – Matthew 4:1-17
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| Panorama view of the Mount of Temptation |
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| St. George's Monastery on the side of the Mount of Temptation |
This site we may not stop at but will see from the bus ride. The Mount is just north of Tel Jericho. Straight away from being baptized in the Jordan, Jesus was led into the wilderness where he would be tempted by the devil. The proximity of the baptismal site to Mount Temptation also gives evidence for the legitimacy of the location. On this Mount Jesus, at his humanly weakest point, faced a barrage of temptations by Satan himself. The three temptations Jesus faced could be summarized by 1 John 2:16,
This means, categorically, Jesus faced every type of temptation common to humanity and overcame the temptation by quoting from the Law of God, the Torah. It is because Jesus faced these temptations in his weakness to identify with us (Hebrews 4:14-16). He remained faithful where you and I would have fallen. He remained perfect to be the spotless Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29). He is our High Priest that we can go to in confidence in our time of need.
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| This Sunset over the Sea of Galilee is taken from the hotel we will be staying at. |
After his victory over temptations, Jesus withdrew to Galilee. After our long day in the Jordan Valley, we will head north to Galilee.
Written by Brad Horner
Reflection Questions:
· How does Isaiah 52:7's message of "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news" resonate with the current situation in Israel and the world?
· Reflect on the idea that God delivers His people in a way that the nations recognize His intervention (Isaiah 52:10). How can this perspective inform our prayers for peace and deliverance in current global conflicts?
· In Isaiah 53:6, we are reminded of our sinful nature and the brokenness of the world. How can we find hope in the promise of deliverance through Jesus Christ, especially in times of turmoil and suffering?
· Consider the story of Jericho in Joshua 6. What does the way the walls fell outward reveal about God's role in delivering His people? How does this apply to situations where we face seemingly insurmountable obstacles?
· Reflect on the significance of Jesus' baptism in Matthew 3:13-17, particularly the Trinitarian nature of the event. How does this event illustrate the Triune God's involvement in our salvation?
· In Matthew 4:1-17, Jesus faces and overcomes various temptations in the wilderness. How can we draw strength from Jesus' example when we face temptations and trials in our own lives?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, King of the Universe, thank you for your work of deliverance of your people throughout the biblical account. Thank you for your promises to remember your people and to act on their behalf. It is with a heavy heart considering the current war happening in Israel, that I ask you to move once again. Protect the people of Israel, return the captives, and conquer the enemy in such a way that brings you glory and honor. War is just one example of the brokenness of sin in this world. Thank you for providing a plan for the redemption of this world through your Son, Jesus Christ. As I reflect on the stories of your deliverance, help me to confidently come to Jesus, my High Priest, in my time of need, knowing that he loves me and will provide for me. Thank you for hearing my prayers. Amen.
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