Travel Blog

After a refreshing day of rest and relaxation, on day 8 we began the trek north through the Sinai with the Red Sea to the East.  We crossed into Israel at the northern most portion of the Red Sea leaving Egypt at Taba and entering Israel at Elat.  This was the first experience of a border crossing by our group and there are many formalities and needless waiting experienced on the Israeli side of the border.  However, the crossing went without incident and we were on our way north.  After a couple hours of travel the Dead Sea appeared to the north and then we followed the Dead Sea it's entire length from South to North, about 40 miles or so.  The Dead Sea is known as the Salt Sea in the Bible and consists of 33% organic and chemical substance- no fish or other animal life exists there and the sea is mined for its minerals.  We stopped long enough for a few people to try out the water.... I'm not sure the pictures of Dave Kemp and myself swimming in the Dead Sea is worthy of the blog, but who knows!

 

Following a swim and lunch, we stopped at Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.  These scrolls dating between 150BC to no later than 70 AD contain the oldest parchment fragments of the Old Testament.  In fact the whole book of Isaiah was found!  Some scholars refer to the dead sea scrolls as the greatest find in the history of Israel and the Jewish people.  Qumran was probably a community of Essenes which was a sect of mostly men who felt the people of Israel had become too liberal and they devoted themselves to a simple lifestyle, community life, study of scripture and they worked to preserve the Old Testament books of the Law and Prophets.

 

Not far north from Qumran we turned west and headed up toward Jerusalem which is about 10 miles as the crow flies, but 20 miles going around hills.  The incredible thing is that we climbed from 1350 feet below sea level to 2700 feet above sea level in a matter of 30 minutes and the whole geography changed dramatically.  More on the significance of that later.  We ended the day circling Jerusalem and heading the 5 miles to Bethlehem where we were to lay our heads for the next three nights.

The Exodus Experience Part Three Crossing the Red Sea

On day six of our journey we crossed the Nile river and entered Sinai. There are several theories as to exactly where the people of Israel my have crossed the Red Sea (or Reed Sea) and entered freedom.  From wherever they crossed, they entered the great dessert of the Sinai and ended up roaming around lost in the wilderness for 40 years!  The Sinai is a wilderness of rock, sand, rugged terrain, with the accompanying lack of water and vegetation!

 

A highlight of our study travel was the trip to Mount Sinai (at least a mountain designated as the mountain)!  Several of our group spent several hours climbing to the summit, while others reflected and examined St Katherine's monestary at the foot of the hill.  We could well imagine the impatience of the people of Israel as they waited for Moses to come down the mountain.  May God give us the grace and ability to be patient for God's direction and leading in our lives, rather than trying to figure things out ourselves.... and end up building idols like a Golden Calf.

 

After a time at the monestary and Mt Sinai, we then went and spent a day on the Red Sea admiring the different kinds of creations of God, including the desert and a spectacular coral reef that three of us saw while snorkeling in the Sea.  From where we stayed we could see the mountains of Saudia Arabia across the sea as well as the terrain of Egypt on the Sinai and it was incredible.  It was the seventh day of the journey, so we rested and relaxed and worshipped the God of all creation.

The Exodus Experience Part Two

 

The primary purposes for study travel include: understanding the biblical land, places, people and geography in their actual context.  Additionally we work toward understanding the current life and lifestyle of the people and the issues they face.  As we toured egypt we visited Giza and saw the Great Pyramid and Sphinx, we spent time at the Egyptian Musemn in Cairo, went to Dashur where we witnessed the Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid.  Did you know that there are more than 120 pyramids in Egypt? Examination of Pyramids and their contents (all pyramids were tombs) helps us understand much about the culture of the time.  However, we are always left wondering about the common people... what was life like for those who weren't the kings and queens of Egypt.  Since history and writings are only done by the educated elite and those in power, it's hard to fully understand the common people.  What we can know is that the mathematical and engineering prowess of people 3000+ years ago was so extraordinary that to this day scientists can only guess how the pyramids and other contructions were done.

 

We surmise that the early people of Israel after being enslaved in Egypt could have done work on some pyramids or other enterprises.  The book of Exodus tells the tale and the plight of the people of Israel under slavery.  Fortunately God heard their cries and prayers and raised up Moses to lead the people out their slavery life.  Thanks be to God for the miracle of human life and intelligence, and the grace of salvation.