Footsteps Through The Promise Land
By Lemuel Baker, PhD
In Israel the sites and sounds of the 6 million Jews and the 1.7 million immigrants provide apologetic evidence of the Christian Bible we as Christians read, love and cherish each day. During the most recent rocket firing from the Palestinian State of Gaza into Israel specifically into the Israeli cities of Ekron, Ashkelon and Ashdod I remember the numerous times the Old Testament records these exact cities regarding the Philistines and the trouble experienced then recorded in Jeremiah 25:20 "and all the foreign people there; all the kings of Uz; all the kings of the Philistines (those of Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the people left at Ashdod);" These cities were targeted heavily by rockets from Gaza but the Jews living here are intimate with their history and vow never to leave these Israeli cities. These cities were taken by Joshua and Caleb from the giants of the land as a result of their faith but returned to their enemies by their offspring many centuries later. How Ironic? To the Christian these cities remind us apologetically that the Bible we read today is indeed historically accurate and can be entered into any court of law as strong primary evidence for the Christian belief system. As associates of mine risk their lives providing food and aid for Jewish and Palestinian families affected by the rocket fire we see a repeat in history of what the prophet Jeremiah recorded in his time.
There are quieter times in Israel for the most part and I made several trips into Jerusalem as I do regularly to the Kotel also known as the Wailing wall an archaeological remnant from the second temple 19 BC- 70 AD and according to Jewish tradition and Isaiah 66:1 a footstool of God to join in prayer and remember its history. The Temple Mount is most notable because the soil of this very real estate is the same soil God used to create man from the dust of the earth and breathed into man the breath of life and man became a living soul. I remember Genesis 2:7 "the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." As I join in prayer I remember the history of creation, the God of creation, Mount Moriah where Abraham attempted to sacrifice his son Isaac and of course Calvary where Jesus was crucified. The thoughts of this deep verifiable history and to see, touch and interact with it all strengthens the believer in Christ.
As I traveled east of Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives where Jesus sweat drops of blood medically known as hematodrosis while praying in Gethsemane, I remember the intense agony of Christ as He agonized anticipating being separated from God the Father for the very first time as He took upon Himself the sin of the entire world. Hematodrosis or sweat mixed with blood occurs very rarely and only in extreme times of stress where tiny capillaries attached to sweat glands rupture due to intense pressure and mix with sweat. On the Mount of Olives the glory of the Lord rested as recorded in the book of Ezekiel and the spot to which the Lord Jesus Christ will return at His second coming.
Moving on to the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives to Bethany I remember Lazarus and the close relationship he and his sisters Mary and Martha had with Jesus and the raising of Lazarus from the dead. The impact of this miracle took place four days after Lazarus died because Jewish tradition of the time believed the soul lingered with the deceased body for three days then departed. If Jesus raised Lazarus during the three day period of the soul called the "nephesh" the impact would have been negligible to those looking on but all present knew the soul of Lazarus had departed on the fourth day and indeed the miracle was impacting. Jesus knew the tradition and wanted to help those around recognize He indeed was the promised Messiah. Friend in times when there are delays we remember to trust God because there are reasons for the delays not yet revealed to us for His glory.
I did some more filming in east Jerusalem from the roof top belonging to some new friends with clear view of Mount Scopus and remembered that before the Hebrew University Campus was built ancient Rome and the Crusaders after them used that very same mountain to launch attacks against Jerusalem. I remember thinking of the Psalmist King David as he wrote "as the mountains surround Jerusalem so the Lord surrounds His people." Psalm 125:2
I traveled to Bethlehem and then on to Hebron 10-15 miles south of Jerusalem stopping in each city to film and in Bethlehem it was easy to remember Ruth gleaning in the field before the more contemporary buildings were erected, Rachel giving birth to Benjamin, dying there and her tomb is still in Bethlehem until today. I especially remembered Mary and Joseph and giving birth to our Savior in an off the beaten path location as I too taped first in a very busy street in Bethlehem but then retreated to an off the beaten path location so I could hear myself think. I remember how the trip may have been for Mary especially as she journeyed from Nazareth eighty miles or so to Bethlehem traveling through or around the outskirts of Jerusalem. While filming in Nazareth I remembered the character of the virgin Mary when she said "be it unto me according to thy word." She could have said no but she said yes and that changed her life forever in a positive way. She was familiar with spiritual matters and was prepared for the angelic visit. Some theologians believe others were asked to be the mother of the Messiah but only Mary said yes because God gives man a free will.
While taping in Hebron at the field of Machpelah I saw the report of Genesis 23:9-19 in living color as Abraham purchased this burial plot for 400 shekels of silver. Today Abraham, Sarah, Rebecca and Isaac are buried there thus Hebron is very special to Christianity and Judaism because our Patriarchs and Matriarchs are buried there. I also remembered that the four locations most revered by Judaism are Jerusalem, Hebron, Tiberius and Safed. King David first ruled the two southern tribes from Hebron his first headquarters for seven and one half years before assuming full ruler ship that included the ten northern tribes at which time he made Jerusalem his new headquarters to complete a forty year reign. Jerusalem still emanates King David's primary anointing of peace, prosperity and war.
While on one of my several trips to Galilee to film I remembered Jesus spent over 90% percent of his ministry life in that geographical area. In Luke 4:18-19 Jesus quoted the prophet Isaiah and the elders of the synagogue put Him out because He declared He was the Messiah. At that point Jesus moved His ministry headquarters from Nazareth to Galilee specifically to Capernaum one of the towns around the Sea of Galilee which is approximately 64 square miles. I filmed around the Sea of Galilee at Cana where Jesus turned water into wine, at Magdala where Jesus cast seven demons out of Mary from Magdala, in Bethsaida and Chorazim that rejected Jesus and in Capernaum by the Apostle Peter's lofty lake home now owned by the Catholic church. The tangible presence of Jesus Christ is most noticeable in Galilee, Jerusalem and Mount Hermon in far northern Israel. In Galilee I remembered Jesus walking on that very same water, the net breaking boat load of fish caught by Peter and the coin in the fishes mouth also came from the sea of Galilee. I filmed from the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus taught the multitudes and even the birds seemed to respond to the presence of Christ still there as they fluttered around me in joy as I spoke. I imagine this was a taste of heaven on earth and what the Garden of Eden was before the fall of man.
It was a cold and rainy day what the bible calls the latter rains in December as I traveled from Galilee to the furthest point north in Israel a stones throw from Damascus, Syria Mount Hermon snow capped mountain. It was at the base of this Mountain Jesus transfigured late at night with His disciples there. This was a place where I felt I didn't want to leave and return to civilization because the presence of God was like heaven on earth. My associates back in Jaffa - Tel Aviv said a noticeable light was on my face when I returned home. Although Israeli soldiers patrolled the DMZ between Israel and Syria today staring into my eyes as fierce warriors the presence of God was overwhelming as I prayed early that morning and as I filmed later on in the day. I prayed for the Christians in Damascus, Syria as well because they are in a turbulent war torn crisis and need our prayers. Peter, James and John did not want to leave Mount Hermon either but wanted to make tabernacles there because of the presence there not because they were selfish. Some theologians assign Mount Tabor on the way to Galilee as the location of the transfiguration. Tradition places satan and his evil angels to land on Mount Hermon when thrown out of heaven but what I experienced was an open heaven and a geographical area where heaven touches earth.
My apartment within range of rocket fire from Gaza was in the city of Jaffa for the three months in Israel 2011 and in the city of Haifa when I returned for another three months. In Jaffa, where I traveled out of, built approximately 4,000 years ago by Japheth one of Noah's sons, where Jonah sailed to Tarshish from and where logs from Lebanon to build the temple in Jerusalem were docked, is the home of Simon the Tanner where Peter had his vision of the clean and unclean animals. It was easy to deploy my camera equipment by walking over to the location and filming there. I could imagine Peter praying on the roof of the house at noon or the sixth hour as the bible records it. I drove about an hour by car to Caesarea and filmed in the vicinity where Cornelius was converted the first gentile to enter the Church. It was in Caesarea where Jesus asked the question "who do men say that I am." In my many visits to Caesarea I reflected on the perceptions of Jesus Christ by so many as a good man, a prophet but who deny His Deity. To me He is the undisputed, apologetically verifiable Son of God. Who is Jesus to You. As I drove 10 minutes east of Jaffa to the town of Lod formerly called Lydda I remembered Tabitha also known as Dorcas who Peter raised from the dead.
I took a quick 45 minute flight from Tel Aviv to Eilat in southern Israel a city that borders northern Egypt to reflect on the crossing of the Israelites over the Red Sea into Saudi Arabia then traveling up into the Dead Sea area into Israel. I also prayed for Christians in Egypt who are in turmoil. I filmed in Eilat on the Gulf of Aqaba also called the Red Sea and reflected on the God of Israel who participates in our lives because He is a living personable God unlike the gods of other belief systems.
I had to visit Qumran to rehearse the finding of the "Dead Sea Scrolls" the hallmark of evidence for validity of our Christian Bible" and a pillar for Christian Apologetics.
Sadly however I had to entertain just a mile or so across from Qumran, the Dead Sea and the five Plain Cities that included Sodom and Gomorrah and God's judgment of those cities making the area the lowest spot on earth below sea level due to the pounding it took. This area reminded me that God who is love will judge again at the close of this dispensation of grace as He has given man over six thousand years to come back to Him.
As I am living and traveling out of Haifa, Israel the second time around for three months with Hezbollah just across the border to the north in Lebanon, Syria and Jordon to the east, and Egypt to the south who have factions that keep Israel on perpetual alert it is obvious God Himself keeps Israel. I can see Israeli warships in Haifa Bay from time to time from my apartment alongside cruise ships but living on Mount Carmel where Judaism is flourishing, the Prophets Elijah, Elisha and the school of the prophets of 1 Kings 18:36-39 are revered ; you cant miss solid apologetic verification that the Bible we embrace both Old Testament and New Testament are indeed historically, archaeologically and scientifically valid using Empirical Validity Testing of available data, Power to explain Testing regarding Christianity's ability to meet all essential human needs, Logical Consistency Testing whereby Christianity is logical and sensible and Practicality Testing whereby Christianity provides meaning to our everyday lives.
Clive Staples Lewis or C.S. Lewis known to his friends as Jack wrote Jesus Christ is either a Liar, Lunatic or Lord. Any journey through the land of Israel by someone with an open heart will bring an individual to the conclusion Jesus Christ is indeed Lord after checking the evidence. All truth claims of the Old and New Testaments checkout using valid testing then the tiny leap needed to accept the critical truth claim from Jesus "I am" the Son of God is made easy and intended to be easy. Jesus provided strong primary evidence to include His resurrection and eyewitnesses to His resurrection so it would be easy for you and I to believe. Whether in Israel or away from Israel now that Jesus has risen He is only a prayer away from you for salvation and to meet the deep needs of your heart.
God Bless You Friend.
Chinese Version
腳步穿過應許之地 作者：雷米爾‧貝克博士 在以色列，600 萬猶太人和 170 萬移民的遺址和聲音為我們作為基督徒每天閱讀、喜愛和珍惜的基督教《聖經》提供了護教證據。在最近從巴勒斯坦加薩國向以色列發射火箭期間，特別是向以色列城市以革倫、亞實基倫和阿什杜德發射火箭時，我記得《舊約》多次記錄了這些關於非利士人的確切城市以及當時在耶利米書25 章所記錄的所經歷的麻煩： 20 那裡的一切外邦人，烏斯的諸王，非利士人的諸王（亞實基倫、迦薩、以革倫，並留在亞實突的民）；這些城市成為加薩火箭的嚴重攻擊目標，但居住在這裡的猶太人對他們的歷史很熟悉，並發誓永遠不會離開這些以色列城市。約書亞和迦勒因信仰而從這片土地的巨人手中奪取了這些城市，但許多世紀後又由他們的後代歸還給他們的敵人。多諷刺？對基督徒來說，這些城市抱歉地提醒我們，我們今天讀到的《聖經》在歷史上確實是準確的，可以作為基督教信仰體系強有力的主要證據進入任何法庭。當我的同事冒著生命危險為受火箭攻擊的猶太和巴勒斯坦家庭提供食物和援助時，我們看到先知耶利米在他那個時代所記錄的歷史重演。 以色列大部分時間都比較安靜，我曾多次前往耶路撒冷，就像我定期去科泰爾一樣，科泰爾也被稱為哭牆，是公元前19 年至公元70 年第二聖殿的考古遺跡，根據猶太傳統和以賽亞書66 :1 上帝的腳凳，可以參與祈禱並記住其歷史。聖殿山最引人注目，因為這片土地的土壤正是上帝用地球上的塵土創造人類時所用的土壤，並向人類吹入了生命的氣息，使人類成為了一個活生生的靈魂。我記得創世記2:7“耶和華神用地上的塵土造了人，將生氣吹在他鼻孔裡，人就成了活人。”當我加入禱告時，我想起了創造的歷史，創造的上帝，亞伯拉罕試圖犧牲祂的兒子以撒的摩利亞山，當然還有耶穌被釘在十字架上的加略山。對這段可證實的深刻歷史的思考，以及對它的觀察、觸摸和互動，都會增強基督的信徒。 當我從耶路撒冷東部前往橄欖山時，耶穌在客西馬尼園祈禱時流下了醫學上稱為血汗症的血滴，我記得基督的強烈痛苦，因為他在痛苦中第一次與父神分離。汗水或汗水與血液混合的情況很少發生，只有在壓力極大的時候才會發生，此時附著在汗腺上的微小毛細血管會因巨大的壓力而破裂並與汗液混合。正如以西結書所記載，主的榮耀停在橄欖山上，也是主耶穌基督第二次再來時將要再來的地方。 繼續前往橄欖山東坡前往伯大尼，我記得拉撒路以及他和他的姊妹瑪麗和馬大與耶穌的密切關係以及拉撒路從死裡復活。這個奇蹟的影響發生在拉撒路死後四天，因為當時的猶太傳統相信靈魂在死者的身體上徘徊三天然後離開。如果耶穌在被稱為「nephesh」的靈魂三天期間復活拉撒路，那麼對於那些觀看的人來說，影響可以忽略不計，但在場的所有人都知道拉撒路的靈魂在第四天就離開了，而且確實是奇蹟正在產生影響。耶穌了解這個傳統，並希望幫助周圍的人認識到祂確實是應許的彌賽亞。朋友，當出現延誤時，我們記得要相信上帝，因為為了祂的榮耀，延誤的原因尚未向我們透露。 我在東耶路撒冷的一些新朋友的屋頂上進行了更多拍攝，可以清楚地看到斯科普斯山，並記得在希伯來大學校園建成之前，古羅馬和十字軍在他們使用同一座山對耶路撒冷發動攻擊之後。我記得想起詩篇作者大衛王，他寫道：“群山環繞耶路撒冷，耶和華也環繞他的子民。”詩篇 125:2 我去了伯利恆，然後前往耶路撒冷以南10 至15 英里的希伯倫，在每個城市都停下來拍攝，在伯利恆，很容易記住露絲在更現代的建築拔地而起之前在田野裡拾穗的情景，以及瑞秋臨死前生下班傑明的情景。我特別記得瑪麗和約瑟夫，並在一個人跡罕至的地方生下了我們的救世主，因為我也首先在伯利恆一條非常繁忙的街道上錄製，但是
然後退到一個人跡罕至的地方，這樣我就能聽到自己的思考。我記得這次旅行對瑪麗來說可能是怎樣的，尤其是當她從拿撒勒大約八十英里到達伯利恆，途經或繞過耶路撒冷郊區時。在拿撒勒拍攝時，我想起了聖母瑪利亞的性格，她說「照你的話成就在我身上」。她本可以說“不”，但她說“是”，這以積極的方式永遠改變了她的生活。她熟悉屬靈的事情，並為天使的來訪做好了準備。有些神學家認為其他人被要求成為彌賽亞的母親，但只有瑪麗答應了，因為上帝賦予人類自由意志。 當亞伯拉罕在希伯倫麥比拉田地錄音時，我看到了創世記 23:9-19 的生動報道，亞伯拉罕用 400 舍客勒銀子購買了這塊墓地。今天，亞伯拉罕、撒拉、麗貝卡和以撒都被埋葬在那裡，因此希伯崙對基督教和猶太教來說非常特別，因為我們的族長和女族長都被埋葬在那裡。我還記得猶太教最崇敬的四個地方是耶路撒冷、希伯崙、提比略和薩法德。大衛王首先在希伯倫統治了兩個南方部落，並在他的第一個總部統治了七年半，然後才獲得了包括北方十個部落在內的全面統治權，當時他將耶路撒冷作為新的總部，完成了四十年的統治。耶路撒冷仍然散發著大衛王的和平、繁榮和戰爭的主要恩膏。 當我多次去加利利拍攝電影時，我記得耶穌 90% 以上的事工生涯都是在那個地理區域度過的。在路加福音 4 章 18-19 節中，耶穌引用了先知以賽亞的話，會堂裡的長老把他趕了出來，因為他宣稱自己是彌賽亞。那時，耶穌將他的事工總部從拿撒勒搬到了加利利，特別是迦百農，這是加利利海周圍的城鎮之一，面積約為 64 平方英里。我在迦拿的加利利海周圍拍攝了耶穌將水變成酒的地方，在抹大拉，耶穌從抹大拉的馬利亞身上趕出了七個惡魔，在拒絕耶穌的伯賽大和哥拉心，以及在迦百農，使徒彼得的高聳的湖邊別墅現在屬於天主教會。耶穌基督的實際存在在以色列北部的加利利、耶路撒冷和黑門山最為引人注目。在加利利，我記得耶穌在同一片水域上行走，彼得捕到的破網魚和魚嘴裡的硬幣也來自加利利海。我在八福山拍攝，耶穌在那裡教導群眾，甚至連鳥兒似乎也回應了基督的存在，當我說話時，它們在我周圍快樂地飛翔。我想這就是人間天堂的滋味，就像人類墮落之前的伊甸園一樣。 那是一個寒冷多雨的日子，聖經稱之為十二月的晚雨，當我從加利利前往以色列北部最遠的地方時，距離敘利亞大馬士革只有一箭之遙，赫爾蒙山雪山。就在這座山的山腳下，耶穌和他的門徒在深夜變了形。這是一個我不想離開並返回文明的地方，因為上帝的存在就像人間天堂。我在特拉維夫雅法的同事說，當我回到家時，我臉上有明顯的光亮。儘管以色列士兵今天在以色列和敘利亞之間的非軍事區巡邏，他們像兇猛的戰士一樣盯著我的眼睛，但當我那天早上祈禱和當天晚些時候拍攝時，上帝的存在是壓倒性的。我也為敘利亞大馬士革的基督徒祈禱，因為他們正處於動盪的戰爭危機中，需要我們的祈禱。彼得、雅各和約翰也不想離開黑門山，但想在那裡建造帳幕，因為那裡的存在，而不是因為他們自私。有些神學家指定前往加利利途中的他泊山為耶穌顯聖容的地點。傳統上，撒旦和他的邪惡天使被趕出天堂後會降落在黑門山，但我所經歷的是一個開放的天堂和一個天堂接觸地球的地理區域。 2011 年，我在以色列的三個月裡，在加薩火箭射程內的公寓位於雅法市，而當我返回以色列時，又在海法市住了三個月。我離開的雅法是約4,000 年前由諾亞的兒子之一雅弗建造的，約拿從那裡航行到他施，也是從黎巴嫩運來建造耶路撒冷聖殿的原木停泊的地方，這裡是製革工人西門的家，彼得在那裡居住。步行到拍攝地點並在那裡拍攝即可輕鬆部署我的相機設備。我可以想像彼得在中午或《聖經》記載的正午時分在屋頂上祈禱。我開車大約一個小時到達凱撒利亞，並在哥尼流成為第一個進入教堂的外邦人皈依的地方附近拍攝。它是在
凱撒利亞，耶穌問「人們說我是誰」的問題。在我對凱撒利亞的多次訪問中，我反思了許多人對耶穌基督的看法，並認為他是一個好人、一個先知，但否認他的神性。對我來說，他是無可爭議、無可爭議的上帝兒子。對你來說耶穌是誰。當我從雅法向東開車10 分鐘到達羅德鎮（以前稱為呂達）時，我想起了塔比莎（Tabitha）也被稱為多卡斯（Dorcas），彼得讓她從死裡復活。 我從特拉維夫搭乘 45 分鐘的快速航班飛往以色列南部的埃拉特，這座城市與埃及北部接壤，回顧以色列人穿越紅海進入沙烏地阿拉伯，然後進入死海地區進入以色列的經歷。我也為處於動盪之中的埃及基督徒祈禱。我在亞喀巴灣（也稱為紅海）的埃拉特拍攝，反思了參與我們生活的以色列神，因為與其他信仰體系的神不同，他是一位活生生、風度翩翩的神。 我必須造訪庫姆蘭，以排練「死海古卷」的發現，「死海古卷」是我們基督教聖經有效性的證據標誌，也是基督教護教學的支柱。 然而可悲的是，我不得不在距離庫姆蘭、死海和包括所多瑪和蛾摩拉在內的五個平原城市僅一英里左右的地方進行娛樂，上帝對這些城市的審判使該地區由於撞擊而成為地球上低於海平面的最低點。這個區域提醒我，作為愛的上帝將在恩典時代結束時再次審判，因為他已經給了人類六千年的時間來回到他身邊。 當我第二次離開以色列海法生活和旅行時，為期三個月，真主黨就在黎巴嫩北部，敘利亞和約旦東部，埃及南部，他們有讓以色列永久存在的派系值得注意的是，顯然是神親自保守了以色列。我住在海法灣的公寓裡，時不時能看到以色列軍艦和遊輪，但我住在迦密山，猶太教盛行，先知以利亞、以利沙和列王紀上18:36-39 的先知派都受到尊崇；您不能錯過可靠的辯護驗證，即我們所接受的《舊約》和《新約》確實在歷史上、考古學和科學上都是有效的，使用現有數據的經驗有效性測試、解釋能力測試基督教滿足所有人類基本需求的能力、邏輯一致性測試基督教是合乎邏輯和明智的，而實用性測試則為我們的日常生活提供了意義。 克萊夫·史台普斯·劉易斯 (Clive Staples Lewis) 或 C.S. 路易斯 (C.S Lewis) 被他的朋友們稱為傑克，他寫道，耶穌基督要么是騙子，要么是瘋子，要么是主。任何一個心懷開放的人穿越以色列土地的旅程都會在檢查證據後得出結論耶穌基督確實是主。 《舊約》和《新約》的所有真理主張都使用有效的測試進行檢驗，然後接受來自耶穌「我是」神的兒子的關鍵真理主張所需的微小飛躍變得很容易，而且本來就是容易的。耶穌提供了強有力的主要證據，包括祂的復活和祂復活的目擊者，這樣你我就很容易相信。無論是在以色列或離開以色列，既然耶穌已經復活了，他離你只是一個祈求拯救和滿足你內心深處需要的祈禱。 上帝保佑你朋友。
