Israel: Milk and Honey for the Soul

By Rita Hemby

This book is a compilation of real-life incidences in the land of Israel and provides spiritual applications from each location referenced. Couched in the context of study-abroad experiences of college students, these anecdotal insights are sure to be entertaining, enlightening, enjoyable, as well as edifying. Israel: Milk and Honey for the Soul, is designed to do for the heart for the corresponding physical elements do for the body… provide strength and nourishment for one’s personal journey. Israel comes to life within these pages and offers the reader the “next best thing to being there.” Come inside and join the journey!
Endorsements:
I sense a winsome and familiar breathless thrill in Rita Hemby's writings. Hers is a charming and unpretentious voice laced liberally with genuine love for The Land and especially for Jerusalem. Dr. Mark Rutland President/Founder of Global Servants; Author; University President; Pastor
Rita Hemby’s book of adventures in Israel is vivid, fascinating, and filled with Biblical and historical insights. Reading her stories brings the Holy Land to life.
Dr. Robert C. Crosby President: Emerge Ministries; University Professor; Author; Pastor

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gatekeeper Press
• Release date: Apr 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9781662939969

Book preview

1

Hezekiah’s Tunnel… Where Living Waters Flow

I can’t go in. I’m claustrophobic, she discouragingly confessed. Looking into the troubled eyes of this student, I could tell she was sincerely fearful but just as sincerely disappointed that she was not able to join the group for the walk through Hezekiah’s Tunnel. I assured her that it was completely fine for her to skip this adventure and nothing to be upset about. The truth be known, I was somewhat claustrophobic and a little apprehensive myself. After all, trekking through Hezekiah’s Tunnel is not for the faint-hearted.

First, it is a long walk of approximately 1,700 feet. The average height is less than six feet, and the width is only 23 to 26 inches. The depth of water depends primarily on the amount of rainfall, but it can vary from almost dry to chest deep.

Even though the tunnel was discovered in modern times, only in 1838 by American archeologist Edward Robinson, the story began two thousand seven hundred years ago. It is fit for a Hollywood movie, packed with suspense and drama.

In Isaiah 36:1, the story kicks off with the high-handed Assyrian king Sennacherib on the warpath. Having already conquered the northern kingdom of Israel and other cities in Judah, Sennacherib expected Jerusalem to fall next. The people of Jerusalem felt vulnerable. King Hezekiah could feel the Assyrian army breathing down his neck. He knew if the Assyrians cut off Jerusalem’s water supply, the city could not survive a siege; it would mean surrender or certain death.

After seeking God, Hezekiah had his kingdom embark on this amazing, engineering feat of digging a tunnel through solid rock. He rerouted the water from the Gihon Springs into the city by way of the tunnel, allowing the springs to flow freely into a pool later named the Pool of Siloam. In Chronicles, the Bible continues the story that was begun in Isaiah.

So there were gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying why should the kings of Assyria come, and find more water? 2 Chronicles 32:4

This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper water course of Gihon and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And he prospered in all his works. 2 Chronicles 32:30

As the tunnel was excavated in the 1800’s, an inscription written in ancient Hebrew letters was discovered inside the tunnel, explaining how this feat was accomplished. When I finally did explore the tunnel, I shuffled with the others through the darkness in knee-deep water, as we aimed our flashlights at the narrow walls. We were overwhelmed to see the marks in the walls and know that we were gazing at the same indentions in the bedrock that King Hezekiah’s diggers had made with their tools. I envisioned them focused, driven to complete the project, knowing that their very lives and the lives of their families depended on it.

Upon completion of the tunnel, they had life-giving water to sustain them through the enemy’s threat. That same tunnel is a beautiful example and illustration of God’s love, protection and provision.

In John 7, Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles. This feast was a massive and electrifying celebration of the faithfulness of God, thanking him for his provision. The priest, carrying a golden pitcher would walk down to the Pool of Siloam and dip the pitcher in the pool of water. As he made the return ascent up to the temple, a huge procession of people would follow him shouting, dancing, and playing instruments. Once there, he would offer up a water libation (a drink offering) to God by pouring the water into a basin on the altar.

The priest would then read Isaiah 12:2-3 Behold, God is my salvation: I will trust and not be afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song: he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

For the Jews, water was a symbol of salvation, and the water brought to the altar was an offering of thanks to God for the provision of salvation. It was also a symbol of their coming redeemer, possibly a man like Moses who would supply them with water, even from a rock.

Throughout the Feast of Tabernacles, a water libation was offered repeatedly. It is recorded in John 7:38-39 that, on the eighth day of the feast, Jesus cried out. If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Jesus was saying, Here I am. I am the one! I am the fulfillment of that scripture. I am your redeemer, the one you’ve been waiting for. Come unto me. Then he continued by announcing the coming of the Holy Spirit, who was not yet given but would later appear, as recorded in Acts 2.

The people who heard Jesus knew He was not talking about physical water. Everyone there had a deep subconscious thirst for righteousness. They were drinking from mud holes trying to fill a void only Jesus could fill. They needed the living waters. Living waters are waters that are constantly moving, having an outside source that keeps them fresh and uncontaminated.

Inside Hezekiah’s tunnel, I had the sobering sensation that there is a river flowing inside of me, just as the water flowed within those stone walls. In fact, Jesus is that river of pure, unpolluted life in every believer, giving water to our souls. The enemy cannot shut off our Source, our Water of Life, because He is Jesus, our joy, comfort and strength. While the world in turmoil seems to be going crazy, He is the constant flow of stability and victory. We take comfort in knowing that regardless of whatever external situations we face today, our internal source of joy remains constant.

Engedi

2

En Gedi… A Lesson on Jealousy

Gasping for breath, I reached for the nearest rock to stabilize my enervated legs. They felt as limp as spaghetti. After a two-minute break, I was still huffing and puffing. I began debating how much further I could climb.

It was a brutally hot August day in the Judean desert, enough to constrain the most robust and athletic. Many tourists do not venture much further past the visitors’ center at En Gedi. In fact, many tours bypass the fascinating site altogether. The medium level hike up to David’s Falls can be extremely vigorous for the beginner.

Ascending the steep, rocky steps, we passed a series of small, clear pools, enfolding and refreshing several weary hikers, who like happy children were laughing and splashing, relishing the cool, invigorating water. I was tempted to join them but resigned myself to indulging later—after the journey’s end. I was fixed on reaching my destination.

Reaching David’s Falls was an overwhelming experience. I was amazed and entranced with this luscious oasis. Glistening water cascaded down the rocks to assemble in one graceful, beautiful pool that then extended its watery arms down the cliffs into streams and other small ponds. The oasis was an island of green foliage and cooler, water-laden air, creating the perfect environment for resting. It bade me come. I obliged.

First Samuel 24:1 identifies En Gedi as a place where David sheltered while hiding from King Saul’s murderous rage. Looking at the caves in the craggy rocks and cliffs, I felt a strange sensation, wondering if this could be the exact spot in which David concealed himself.

Suddenly, I was overcome with compassion for David and his motley crew. How devastated he must have felt, knowing he had done nothing to deserve his fugitive life!

Saul was intensely jealous of David. This same Saul, who had shown great humility and felt so small in his own eyes at the start of his anointing, had become self-obsessed and fearful that David would take away his kingship He had become increasingly jealous of the younger man’s every accomplishment. Fear feeds jealousy. David had done only good to Saul. He was one of Saul’s faithful and brave soldiers and was the anointed psalmist-in-residence when Saul needed deliverance from evil spirits. However, King Saul could not get past his own insecurity to allow David to be a blessing to him. He considered every honorable action from David a threat to his throne.

The Bible describes numerous incidences of jealousy. In the Old Testament, these include Cain’s jealousy that led him to murder his brother, Abel, and Joseph’s brothers, who were so jealous that they sold him as a slave. In the New Testament King Herod’s jealousy of the infant Jesus led him to commit mass murder in Bethlehem. The Pharisees’ intense jealousy eventually resulted in the Crucifixion of Jesus. Other examples range from jealous wives to envious kings to individual and even national rebellion against legitimate authority.

Proverb 27:4 tells us that jealousy is more powerful than anger and fury. James 3:16 says, Where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every evil.

From these scriptures, we understand that jealousy is a powerful and destructive emotion that can be especially calamitous in leaders. This monstrous passion will cause confusion, agitation and turmoil, preventing clear thinking and sound decisions.

You say it does not affect you? How about the time your friend was blessed with an unexpected financial increase or your coworker received that promotion you felt you deserved? Maybe someone close to you bought a new home or car. Did you wonder why it could not have been you?

Sometimes we find it hard to celebrate with others. I heard a story about two writers who were jealous of each other. Then one of them wrote a book that ended up on the best sellers list. The writers happened to meet at a party where the unpublished writer approached the best-selling author and said, I bought your book. Who wrote it for you?

The best-selling author was shaken by the comment, but gathered his thoughts and responded, Thank you for buying my book. Who read it to you? Jealousy and insecurity caused each man to belittle the other.

R. T. Kendall wrote a timely and much needed book entitled Jealousy – The Sin No One Talks About. It’s true! Have you ever heard anyone request prayer for jealousy?

It is one of those secret sins we fight to keep under control. We struggle to keep our invidiousness hidden under lock and key, but it refuses be held prisoner by our will. When we least expect it, it will intrude and inundate our feelings.

Jealousy will eat at us like a disease. If untreated, it will wrap its ugly tentacles around a soul, causing bitterness, hatred and contempt, stunting both physical and spiritual health.

A major cause of jealousy is insecurity. If someone receives something we lack, then we feel insecure and mistreated by God. We forget the goodness of God and no longer believe and trust Him for what is best for our lives. In the Song of Solomon 8:6, the Bible clearly defines the danger that jealousy poses by describing it as cruel as the grave.

When this monster rears its ugly head, flee it as you would a deadly cobra. Confess to the Lord that this sin has surfaced in your life. Ask Him to fill you with godly contentment and help you walk in the security of His love, living in active gratitude for what you have received; assured that He knows what is best for