Why Bless Israel? Should I bless Israel? I've always heard that those who bless Israel will be blessed. My grandmother always told me to bless Israel, which she did by giving to ministries that supported Israel. I believe I blessed Israel by visiting there and walking in His footsteps. Let the nations of worshippers come into the gates for a harvest of refreshing. What about you? Will you bless Israel? Will you make your pilgrimage soon? "I rejoiced with those who said to me, let us go to the house of the Lord. Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem."
1 Being in Israel, the Bible comes to life, and I instantly found myself walking where Jesus walked. The same way God was calling Abraham, He was calling me to visit this holy place-to leave my family, my home, and take a leap of faith into the land of milk and honey. "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all the people on the earth will be blessed by you."
2 So long ago, Abraham did as the Lord told him to do. With Sarah, Lot, and everything he owned, they set out for this new land. He was seventy-five years old when the Lord told him to leave everything he knew. The faith of all nations depended on this one man's obedience to an invisible God. This time, I was the pilgrim on a journey to share the footsteps of our Lord. I was going to the Holy Land with people I had never met to see places I had only read about. I was filled with a feeling of excitement beyond words. I expected the heart of the Bible to come alive and I wasn't disappointed. Those special words of scripture tell us the precious Son of God became flesh and dwelt on the earth. His teachings, miracles, and preaching of the good news are well documented within the Word of God, our Bible. Reading the four gospels illuminates Jesus' words in our inner man. Each writer of the gospels had a unique writing style and wrote from his perspective. The Holy Spirit inspired each author to write these books. As you study and meditate on His Words, the gospels come alive. You will see Jesus as Teacher, Messiah, Healer and Lover of all men as well as the Savior of mankind. Not until you go to Israel will you read and experience the fifth gospel. The Holy Land is the final book of the gospels written on your heart. My Living Bible traveled with me everywhere. A graduation gift, it protected a treasured note written and signed by my grandmother: "I love my Robbie Angel." It was signed "Grannie Opal." I cherish that note because she had also jotted down Numbers 6:24-26 which is also a special prayer to Jewish people, called the "Aaronic Priestly Prayer Blessing." "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace."
3 The precious words of my daughter also followed my steps throughout the tour: "And she is off to Israel. I am praying for a secure, safe trip for my Momma." I had traveled many times all over the United States and to other countries, but not to the other side of the world. This time I would be traveling to the Middle East. Words could not express the excitement I felt during preparation. I had so much anticipation about the opportunity to go to the Holy Land and seeing where Jesus walked. Even all the days of playing and coaching basketball and being in the playoffs could not come close to the excitement that grew within my soul. Upon arriving in Tel Aviv, I met our tour guide, whose name was Uri. He proved to be so kind and helpful throughout the tour. That day, Uri guided me outside the airport to the tour bus. I was the last person to arrive that day. Everyone was so friendly and glad to see me. I gave the driver my bag and boarded the bus. I met a lady from Ohio and sat beside her on the ride to the hotel. We were both so excited to be on this trip. As the bus departed for our hotel, I remember thinking, "I am actually in Israel." The smells, the sounds just escalated our joy at setting foot in Israel. Our bus driver was named Meir, and he knew very little English. But with a big smile, Meir knew how to communicate. Once the bus took off, our tour guide Uri started sharing his vast knowledge of Israel over a microphone. To call him a travel expert is an understatement. As the first words came out of his mouth, I knew that Uri knew what he was doing. He knew so much about Israel and the Bible. Uri could open and close his Bible and quote an entire chapter. His special Bible went with him everywhere he went. I asked Uri, "How did you get to know the Bible so well?" Uri replied, "I would read, repeat, write, and then recite it. Then I went to college to learn more about the Bible. Now, it's in my heart." Watching me take notes, Uri continued, "I started just like you. Keep taking notes and you will learn it too." Uri knew the best places to shop, eat and special spots only a sabra would know. A sabra is a Jewish person who was born in Israel. He knew everyone at each place we stopped. They appeared to be one big family. His being a native of Israel was very evident. He displayed a tremendous loyalty, love and respect for his homeland. Meir and Uri would wave, smile and frequently ask if anyone needed water. These two guys were a great combination. At all tour stops, they would check to make sure we all returned safely back to the bus to our seats. I was impressed with their care and concern. What a fun ride from the airport to our hotel. We were all singing and watching the palm trees go by. Finally, the bus arrived at our first destination. After unloading from the bus, we all stopped in the hotel lobby to check-in and retrieve our bags. The opening prayer was led by a man named Gabriel, who wanted all of us to hold hands. It was one of the most beautiful prayers I've ever heard. I was reminded of the model prayer that Jesus told us to use. "This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.'"
4 Each morning, I still anoint myself with holy oil from Israel, as an act of obedience to God. By applying, smelling, and seeing the oil as I pray, I'm reminded to daily dedicate my mind, body, and spirit to the Lord. Thanking God for another day of life, I express gratitude for His presence, His provision, His protection, and His anointing on my life. I have found that anointing myself keeps me grounded and sensitive to Holy Spirit, and a faithful servant. For this trip, I used anointing oils for strength, protection, grace, and peace. Many anointing oils are made in Israel. King David anointed with sacred oils daily. "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows."
5 My tour group was with Ayelet Tours. Joan Hunter Ministries was sponsoring this trip to Israel, and it was called "Healing 4 the Holy Land." Our ten-day trip had most of the expenses included as we stayed in Tel Aviv, Tiberias, and Jerusalem. I would highly recommend this tour for many reasons. First, you will walk where Jesus walked and see a desert that has become fruitful and lush. Next, you will taste foods Jesus ate and look for shepherds grazing their sheep on the hills and valleys. You will see Bible prophecy coming to life as the remnant of Jewish people joyfully return home. Maybe you would even like to ride on a camel in the streets of Jerusalem. "I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and parched ground into springs. I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set pines in the wasteland, and fir and cypress together, so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it."
6 In Joan's words: "No matter how often I come to Israel, I am always amazed that I am walking in the land where Jesus was born and walked so long ago. Once more I can walk where He walked. Close your eyes for just a moment and feel your spirit longing to return home. The memories of home and the marketplace can be overwhelming."
7 While journaling during the trip to Israel, the sensation of a rushing mighty wind was in my soul. My heart was pounding. I never felt nervous and always had peace. Most of the time, I wanted to praise the Lord and shout hallelujah. Jerusalem was calling to me: "Robbie, go to this holy place. Taste and see that Yahweh is good. Touch and hear all I have for you. Go tell others about it." I was the one person out of fifty who wrote constantly everywhere we went. At first, I thought my pen must be moving before it ever touched the page. The scribe angel was telling me to share this story. As I arrived back home to consider my...
