Sorry, no pictures today. Instead, I want to do as a I promised and share some thoughts on the Israel experience. Many of you have never been, but some of you have. I will try to communicate how I feel about IBEX and Israel in words.
First, I cannot describe Israel to you in words that do it justice. If you have been here before, you know what I mean. Israel is amazing. It is life-changing. But no matter how hard I try I just can't do it justice. You will probably think its cool, because it is. But nothing compares with seeing it. You don't get a picture of what it was like for David in the wilderness of Jesus walking through Jerusalem through photos. They are neat, but to really experience it, you must
be there. I am not saying that your understanding of Scripture cannot be complete without coming here. I am just saying it becomes so much more apparent when you see it.
That brings me to my next point. Israel makes the Bible become real. Not that it ever wasn't before. But when you are here you realize how real these people were and how real there struggles are. I was struck when we were at En Gedi by the Dead Sea how hard it must have been for David. To read the Psalms shows how real his dependence had to be. He
had to depend on God. You can picture Saul chasing him and him hiding in the crags and caves. I don't get warm fuzzies when I visit biblical sites, but it changes the way I read Scripture. I've been there. I've stood where they stood. I've seen what they had to trudge through, and it usually doesn't look easy. God had to be on Israel's side when they entered the Promised Land, and he certainly was.
Thirdly, Israel makes you dependent on the Lord. IBEX is not a resort. I don't get up in the morning and lounge in my spa until my masseuse comes and I can eat gourmet brunch. Many things are hard. Rooms are tiny. Basically I sleep in a broom closet. Food can be somewhat unappealing. When you're craving a juicy cheeseburger, pickled fish just doesn't cut it. Through it all, God's grace is apparent and I know he is shaping me. I have to depend. I can't depend on my comforts, from the big to the small. My friends and family are thousands of miles away. The man at the fruit stand speaks no English and is yelling at me in Hebrew. I see the same people day in and day out, and we are not always a happy family. Yet God is showing me how good he is to me, and how much I need him here. Every situation so far has stretched me and taught me so much about my sinfulness, my selfishness, and my need for dependence. Things are busy, and God is good. I am thankful.
Fourthly, IBEX specifically teaches me to love people. Like I said, we are not always content and loving one another. There are days when we'd rather each other. Yet there is nowhere to go. We can't go and hang out with our friends in Tel Aviv or Haifa. There aren't any. We are it. Love them or hate them, this group of 30 is it. Don't get me wrong, I love our group. I love the people in it, and I love how much fun we have. I wouldn't trade anyone here for the world. We are a family. But like a family, we have our own squabbles and dissonance that has to be taken care of. Sin always rises to the top quickly in such a small group, and it becomes more intense. It forces us to carefully deal with our sin.
Fifthly, the teachers (and their lectures) are some of the best I've ever heard. Todd, Bill and Randy are the three most knowledgeable people I have ever met on the land of Israel. And they
love it. But they know it means nothing if it does not impact your life. So they make it hard and so good. They make sites come alive because they are important, and because the Bible talks about it. I just took the hardest test of my life yesterday (yeah, Todd). It is also the best class I have ever taken. I never imagined the history of ancient Israel could be so interesting and life changing. Thats the thing; its harder than anything I've ever done, but it is also the best. I wouldn't trade the learning for anything. Why take an easy class and learn nothing? There is so much in Scripture to know. It is so good for me to be forced to know it.
Sixth and finally, come to Israel. As soon as you can, for as long as you can. I can't express it in words. You just have to believe me. Before I came, there were people begging me to come to Israel. I didn't see the big deal. Everyone at school goes (or so it seemed). But once you get here, you'll thank me. If you are a student at the Master's College and you have not come to IBEX, then please come. It is worth it. If you are not a student, you should come too. I know it is not possible or feasible for everyone. There is no sin in never making it to Israel. But it is sad. I cannot imagine what I would have done had I never come to Israel. All that I would have missed. Where else can you see so much biblical history in one place? See the places people like Jesus, David, Joshua, and the disciples walked? It is life-changing. Not in some warm fuzzy way, but in a real and vivid way.
When I get back, I'll probably rant about IBEX. You'll probably get sick of it. But I love it, the people who go love it, and it is the experience of a lifetime. Great classes, great students, and great places, great lessons. What better place to get that?
