Yom Kippur

In about one hour, the country of Israel will "close" for Yom Kippur. Rabbinically, this is the holiest day of the Jewish year. The airport closed a few hours ago. The freeways will close, restaurants will close, and people will stay near their homes and synagogues for a day of prayer tomorrow. There is a nation-wide fast as people attempt to humble themselves before God in prayer. Here at IBEX, we will also have a day of prayer tomorrow. We will have specific times where we will praise God for His greatness ("Who is like the LORD our God, who dwells on high, who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the earth?" Psalm 113:5-6), pray for Israel and the church ("My heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved" Romans 10:1), worshipping God for His atoning work ("who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness - by whose stripes you were healed" 1 Peter 2:24), and praying for missions and the lost. It makes me think of Psalm 130:7-8 "O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities." And He has. If only they could see that.

In the above picture, you can see the view the prophet Amos had of the wilderness from his home in Tekoa. In the next picture, we are sitting in the remains of a gate built by Solomon at the important city of Gezer.

We have so many amazing opportunities here. I'm so thankful to have the chance to walk in the land of the Bible and experience it first hand.