Q&A of a Christian’s first time to Israel.

What was your view of Israel before you came? 

I didn’t really have much of a view about Israel before going, to be honest. I wasn’t sure what to expect at all. My main view was the importance of praying for the peace of Israel. 

What did you learn on the trip that impacted you the most? 

I learned a lot more about Jewish culture and Muslim culture and the tensions present and why. Seeing the radicals living alongside each other was fascinating.  I Learned about the specific times and dates of history and why they specifically matter for now. How Jesus took his disciples to the gates of Hell to prove to them that they didn’t have to fear it. As Jesus has victory over it.  Susya - David & Abigail’s story and the impact of honoring and drawing out the gold in people no matter the outer appearance or behavior.  I saw the power of prayers in Jerusalem as a whole. I saw the accelerated effect they have. It felt like real answers would happen to the prayers I prayed for within a short time. I Learned about specific parts and details of stories I have heard numerous times. However, being within the context and place of the story enabled me to take in new details. Eg. Jesus called his disciples on the Sea of Galilee in twos.  Hearing that there is a Muslim cemetery right in front of the East Gate was interesting to me, as it felt like such a visualization of how death cannot separate us from Jesus. He has already walked through it and so will do so again! Being in the physical place where Jesus walked taught me so much and gave me context to the sort of man that he would have been and the sort of culture he had to grow up within.  I learned about how he received 39 lashings and that 40 lashes were meant to kill someone! 

What was your favorite place and why? 

Shiloh

I had a really profound and beautiful encounter with the Lord in Shiloh. It felt like a really important place to me and somewhere I did some business with Jesus, remade some vows and made some more. A place where I saw full circle redemption and things that were lost returned.

Worshipping on Galilee 

I loved the Sea of Galilee as I loved swimming in it and really felt the Lord speak to me really clearly both times I went there. Especially during worship, standing on the front of the boat, I had a really profound moment with the Lord.

Hebron

I bought a Shofar here as a prophetic act to see the walls come down and unity have its place. Then visiting one of the most tense streets where the religious radicals on polar sides of the spectrum live was an honour. To get to walk those streets and pray for peace over that land felt immensely special. To see, feel and experience the tensions happening

After going on this trip how has your view changed about Israel and the Bible?

This trip brought the Word alive for me in a whole new way. It opened my eyes to the reality of the Bible and all I believe. I will now read the Bible in a whole new way, with a whole new insight that I didn’t have before. It also really helped me digest and understand parts of the Bible I didn’t know or fully understand before.  It really convicted and revealed to me the importance of praying for the peace of Israel and revealed even more to me about the different tensions present and why. 

Do you feel like this trip has impacted your relationship with God and if so, why / how?

Yes absolutely. It has brought my whole faith into context and given me a much deeper understanding of the kind of man Jesus would have been. Stepping into Biblical Israel helped me now imagine and understand all the is spoken of in the Bible with a deeper revelation of the profound

Written by Jessica Wilmot - writing in a personal capacity