Footsteps in the Promised Land

“Then Moses went up to Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab and climbed Pisgah Peak, which is across from Jericho. And the Lord showed him the whole land from Gilead as far as Dan; all the land of Naphtali; the land of Ephraim and Manasseh; all of the land of Judah, extending to the Mediterranean Sea; the Negev; the Jordan Valley with Jericho, the city of palms, as far as Zoar. Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said I will give it to your descendents.’” - Deuteronomy 34: 1-4.

As I read through the passage, I thought back to the previous day when I stood on that very same peak and looked out over the Promised Land just as Moses once did. It was a lot to take in and at the same time a lot to be thankful for.

Looking up from my bible as we neared the end of the King Hussein Bridge in Jordan, I caught sight of the Star of David wavering peacefully over the land of Israel just ahead. The border crossing onto Israeli soil is one of the most painstaking entry processes I’ve ever had to endure. It is probably very similar to entering the U.S as a foreigner, but with more high-powered weaponry present. That was the first thing that stuck out to me about Israel. There is practically a small army of young Israelis walking the streets, transportion centers and holy sites armed to the teeth with machine guns, grenade launchers and pistols. I’ve never seen so many weapons in my life…especially in the hands of kids. The security in Israel, just as it was in Egypt, is extremely tight and strict to enforce. I soon found this out…but I’ll get to that later. Metal detectors and baggage scanners are present at every tourist site and transportation center throughout the country. And the city of Jerusalem, which was my first stop, was the most stringent of them all.

Jerusalem is a fascinating city steeped in religious antiquity, architectural beauty, boiling controversy, and a holy aura beyond comparison. During my stay, I toured through the narrow tunnel systems of the old city and circled the outskirts of the Jerusalem wall. The old city is divided into four sections: the Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Armenian Quarters. The following are the main sites I visited and a short description:

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre: This magnificent church stands in the location where the Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Ethiopian and Coptic churches believe Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected. While touring the site, I had trouble finding someone who spoke English, therefore I’m not exactly sure what everything inside represented, but I figured most of it out through my amazingly accurate processes of deduction. Near the front entrance of the church lay a piece of the stone that was rolled in front of Jesus' tomb and the supposed spot where Jesus was crucified was marked by a giant stone monument of some sort; as for the rest…I have no earthly idea.

The Temple Mount: This massive stone platform was built over the site where Solomon’s (First) and Herod’s (Second) Temple once stood and is said to be the place where Abraham was instructed by God to sacrifice his son Isaac in a test of faith (Genesis 22:1-18). This is one of Judaism’s most sacred places. As for Muslims, the Temple Mount is distinguished as the place where Mohammed dreamed of ascending from the mount to heaven to take his place beside Allah. The Temple Mount is at the center of controversy as Arabs and Jews attempt to claim their control over it.

Dome of the Rock: At the center of the Temple Mount stands the gold-plated Dome of the Rock. This mosque is more of a figurehead than an actual house of worship. I was unable to enter the mosque because I’m not Muslim…but I’m sure it was really something.

The Western Wall: The Western Wall, also known by many as the Wailing Wall (because of the Jew’s sorrow over the destruction of the temple), is a piece of the retaining wall built by King Herod in 20 BC. It is the only remnants remaining of Judaism’s holiest shrine.

The Garden of Gethsemane and Mount of Olives: Above the valley of Kidron (John 18:1) and along the slopes of the Mount of Olives lies the Garden of Gethsemane. This olive grove is where Jesus went for prayer and was later arrested by Roman soldiers (Matthew 26:36-46). The tomb of the Virgin Mary is located next to the Garden of Gethsemane.

Mt. Zion and King David’s Tomb: On Mount Zion is the site of the Coenaculum, thought to be the location of the Last Supper. At the back of this same building lies the tomb of King David.


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Photo Credits Hadar Josh Wandajs Betta Design Epublicist