Very surprising news about the desert city of Beer Sheva: a new lake, 2nd largest in Israel (after the Kinneret/Sea of Galilee) and the largest artificial lake in Israel, was inaugurated a few days ago during the holiday period of Sukkot/Feast of Tabernacles. The ancient wells which our fathers Abraham and Isaac dug and re-dug to give water to drink in Beer Sheva — even down to WW1 — have been transformed into recreational lakes and pools. Israel is a world leader in reclaiming waste water for agriculture and commercial uses. The lake is a major part of the development of the Beer Sheva River Park.
Israel Rain-Independent for Water
We met an Israeli water technology expert today, and he told us that Israel is the first country to become rain-independent for its water needs. But do not wash your car at home, for that water is not recycled.
https://www.israel21c.org/how-israel-swims-against-tide-of-worldwide-water-crisis/
Once Upon A Time in Beer Sheva
Call it what you will – Be’er Sheva, Beersheva, Beersheba, Birüsseb, or Bir Seb’a – it is the “Capital of the Negev.”
Beersheva is the largest city in the Negev desert, the center of the fourth most populous metropolitan area in Israel and the eighth most populous Israeli city, boasting a world-class university, hospital and cyber research center of international repute.
You can read the full and interesting article here about the early years of the city during the formation of the modern State of Israel:
https://www.israel21c.org/once-upon-a-time-in-beersheva/
Earth Photo from Israeli Spacecraft
Israel is headed for the moon, and on the way took a beautiful photo of Earth: https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Israeli-spacecraft-Beresheet-takes-first-selfie-in-space-582512
Chewing the Cud – 24 Mar 2019
Rain is expected again today and tomorrow, which may finish off the season. Other countries are having massive flooding or else drought. “Normal” becomes a convenient snare, yet we all, I presume, like it when things are “normal”. Unfortunately, “normal” is not what it used to be — not only in nature, but also in morals. When God’s Word is marginalized, or otherwise ignored or disbelieved, then ‘abnormal’ will rush in and push ‘normal’ out!
We have begun a series in Yeshua’s Inheritance Cong (Nachalat Yeshua) on the first 12 chapters of Genesis, which are the seed-bed and roots of our faith, and for all the rest of this world’s history. When these chapters, beginning from the Beginning, are made irrelevant as regards the faith once-for-all delivered to the saints, then at worst we become part of the falling away leading up to the revelation of the antichrist, or else we are becoming and encouraging others to become ‘doubting Thomases’, who needed proof, evidence, that he would be satisfied with, before he would believe not only what he had heard from being with Yeshua for 3 1/2 years, but what he also heard from the other believers who actually saw the Lord after His resurrection. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Faith always believes God; He will always be proven right; and not merely right, but wise in His rightness. By acquiescing to the wisdom of this world, we become enablers of the increasingly rapid slide into darkness and chaos. Jesus told us that “the night is coming, when no one can work”. God will raise up a bulwark against the rising flood, but the damage will be great.
This year, Purim — with its Full Moon — began on the same evening as the beginning of Spring; it was the first time since 2000, and it will not happen again until 2030. This Purim much attention was drawn to the continuing hostility of Iran (Persia) towards the Jews, especially Israel. The law of the Persians can not be changed, it is written for us in the Book of Esther. So neither can the law that was passed to give the Jews the liberty to defend themselves from those of the Persian Empire who sought their destruction. And, praise God, HIS Law can not be changed which promises His direct intervention at the time of the end to once-and-for-all deliver and save His covenanted people from their sins! For it is not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of YHVH! When you consider it, this reliance on one’s own — or one’s nation’s own — power and might to overcome victoriously is no different than the evolutionary world-view and explanation of the survival of the fittest, and might makes right. No, the meek shall inherit the Earth, and the righteous, says the Lord.
We had a very nice Purim party for the children of our congregation, along with children from Arad, and also from other congregations nearer to us. The lessons of Purim should not be lost on this generation, but we want them to know that it was God, working providentially ‘behind the scenes’, who saw to it that those who acted on behalf of His people overcame the age-old antisemitism, and that those who acted actively and unrepentantly to stir up the irrational hatred were found out and defeated. The devil is still doing the same things today to deceive and lie about Jesus, about Israel, about New Covenant faith in Jesus, but the day of YHVH will come, and the righteousness of GOD will be vindicated! Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Messiah Has Come!
What joy and hope this gave to those who heard the good news/glad tidings when the angels sang, and the Israeli Jewish shepherds in the field heard the joy of the Father in Heaven over the birth of His only-begotten Son, Yeshua, the King of Israel! And what comfort and expectation it gave to those who were waiting for the long-anticipated Messiah whom God first spoke of to our first father and mother in the Garden of Eden! In the sovereign wisdom of God, this expectation and hope were not fully fulfilled at the birth of the Lord, or even during His life and death and resurrection; no, that fullness of the Law and the Prophets waits for the return of this same Yeshua/Jesus to return in great power and glory, to be Lord of every man, and to whom all must confess that He is YHVH! What a glorious day that will be, and the new song to be sung by the saints and the angels! Continue reading “Messiah Has Come!”
Face of Jesus Uncovered at Shivta?
Archaeologists continue to find startling finds in Israel’s Negev Desert. The latest is one in which they believe the face of Jesus is depicted. The Shivta site is in the western Negev, not far from the Egyptian Sinai border. Shivta is a Byzantine Christian site dating back to the early centuries AD.
What is particularly interesting in this depiction is that Yeshua has short hair and more of a Jewish Middle-Eastern appearance. The later church renderings depict Him more as less Jewish looking, and more like a Nazarite, with long hair (and no drinking of wine).
Evidence of Jewish people’s history and presence in the land of Israel — and of Christian faith — is everywhere to be found throughout the State! Come and see.
Ship Drawings Found in Cistern on Beer Sheva Building Site
There might not have been seas in the Negev in modern times, but rock drawings have been found in Beer Sheva depicting knowledge of ships:
Rocket From Gaza Destroys Beer Sheva Home – 17 Oct 2018
While we were out of the country, a rocket from Gaza destroyed structurally a home in Beer Sheva, in our neighborhood. The Iron Dome missile defense system was not in place locally to be activated. Thankfully, the single mother heeded the siren warning in the middle of the night, and took her three young children into the bomb shelter just in time to find safety. The home is located just next to the tracks of the North Beer Sheva train station, and just across the street from Ben-Gurion University, which is across the street of Soroka Medical Center.
Here is a link from JNS, on how the incident was reported:
https://www.jns.org/rocket-from-gaza-destroys-beersheba-home-afp-rocket-caused-damage-to-garden/
Ministry Update – 2 Aug 2018
Shalom again!
Randi and I just returned two days ago from our three week ministry trip to Zambia and DRC, the last two weeks of which we had no wifi connection. A very little bit of Rip Van Winkle, and the world hasn’t changed very much. We did get home though to hear that just the day before, an incendiary balloon from Gaza landed on a street not far from Ben-Gurion University and Soroka Medical Center. As the wind blows…. Continue reading “Ministry Update – 2 Aug 2018”