Beulah Land
“Sweet Beulah Land” is a favorite hymn. Full of imagery and referring to the Land of Israel, as in, a marriage gift for them from her Groom. I thought it might be nice this week to take somewhat of a break from the horrors of war to focus on what God intended the Land to be, and what it will be one day again, forever.
I remember my first trip to Israel, now almost 30 years ago.
As we approached the coast, and Tel Aviv appeared below me, I pressed my face to the window, to drink it all in. I’d done the same thing when my son was born, and I was an inch from his nose as he slept. All beauty and a moment to take with me always.
I was meeting up with David Lewis over there, but went alone. Green as a cucumber, I did not anticipate the lengthy questioning process at the El Al area in Chicago. Very early I got to the gate, as I usually do. Hours later, I raced to the plane as they decided this weirdo on his first trip, reading Benjamin Netanyahu’s book, A Place Among the Nations, could in fact board. Whew.
I have never been out of the U.S. before, and it seemed odd to emerge into a warm, sticky airport and see Hebrew everywhere. I stayed calm and hailed a cab as I clutched an address. Almost an hour later, I got out onto the sidewalk with my suitcase.
I remember for the first few days, I flinched every time I saw an Arab. Even though not all of them wear bomb vests, I was leery. I would cross the street if I saw an Arab approach. This was in the era of Hamas bus attacks. Later, this was reversed. I was walking to a friend’s house in the southern part of Jerusalem. I stupidly had a big black bag with me. A young Jewish mother saw me, her eyes opened wide, and she shuttled her children across to the other side of the street.
Then one day, I was walking in east Jerusalem, down Nablus Road. All of a sudden, a large group of Arab children (I rarely use the political term “Palestinian” anymore) emerge from an alleyway. A few older ones were shephereding their siblings to St. George School. All had big smiles and backpacks. The cutest kids. I relaxed a little.
I got a good introductory look at his marvelous land. One morning I took a walk and found myself on a rocky outcropping near a synagogue. I sat down and actually had my Bible with me. I found a “lily of the field” nearby and pressed it into my Bible. I was on an emotional high and rarely slept that two weeks. I maximized my time and didn’t want to waste it sleeping.
I had gone to help David conduct interviews for his next book. I got to meet David Bar Ilan, Yehuda Levi and…Ariel Sharon. The latter only met us because he remembered David’s favorable radio coverage during the first Lebanon War, as he heard about this “crazy American preacher running back and forth along the Lebanon border.” Sharon was as I hoped he’d be. A wonderful afternoon.
I will always remember the first of many trips touring the Old City of Jerusalem. I was able to visit the Temple Mount, with a group led by Clarence Wagner. We were able to take a very rare look at an area known as “Solomon’s Stables,” underneath the Temple Mount. Walking through a doorway leading down, down, down—in front of Al Aksa Mosque—we saw Roman ruins and the vast area underneath the Arabs were turning into two new mosques!
I have been nine more times and look forward to another trip. I look especially forward to the trip that will lead to eternity. I will see my friend David again, and so many loved ones.
As the world speeds like a freight train into a tunnel of horror, madness, and chaos, I do believe my Lord, Who tells us that we must endure to the end.
One day soon, He is coming back to make all things new and right. This time, for the last time.
Maranatha!
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