We usually choose a theme verse for our trip to Israel and this time we’ve chosen the words of Jacob that are recorded in Genesis 28:17. You might remember the story of Jacob. He ran away from home because he had deceived 
his father and brother. He cheated Esau out of his inheritance and fled in fear for his life. On his way north to Haran, he passed through the Promised Land. In a dream, God appeared to him and said, “I am Yahweh, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your offspring the land that you are now sleeping on. … All the peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.” When Jacob woke, he said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it…What an awesome place this is! This is none other than the house of God. This is the gate of heaven.” It became the city of Bethel. It means “The house of God.”
A common phrase used in the Bible to refer to the entire Promised Land is “…from Dan to Beersheba.” The prosperity, beauty and productivity of this land reached its peak under the leadership of Solomon, David’s son. 1 Kings 4:25 give us this testimony about this land. It says, “Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and fig tree, from Dan to Beersheba, all of Solomon’s days.”
We will see the land from Dan to Beersheba. We’ll visit Caesarea on the sea where Paul defended himself before Felix and Festus. We’ll stand on Mt. Carmel where Elijah slain the prophets of Baal. We’ll look out over the plains of Megiddo where the battle of Armageddon will take place. We’ll stand in Peter’s house in Capernaum where Jesus centered his ministry to Galilee. We’ll pray on the Mount of Olives among thousand year old olive trees. We’ll stand in the upper room where Jesus and his disciples shared their last meal together. We’ll pray at the Western Wall of the temple. We’ll walk the path, Via Dolorosa, where Jesus carried his cross to Calvary. From the Garden tomb, we’ll see the place of the skull called “Golgotha.” From Dan to Beersheba, this is indeed an awesome place!
Chuck
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