Sea Urchin Warning

It was 2011 that we visited the Dolphin Reef in Eilat, Israel. Too late I saw this sign. 

Note the third warning on this sign: BEWARE OF SEA URCHINS.

In 2009, when we were in Aqaba, Jordan ministering at the church there, we went one day to the Red Sea. I waded out into the water, fell and received more than 100 sea urchin stings, mostly in my knee.  

There is much more to this story. At some point, I am going to write an article and call it "Searchin' for an Urchin." (Thanks, Sylvia Simpson, for the great title.) 

For now, it is enough to say that the "Beware of Sea Urchins" warning is there for a good reason. There are sea urchins in the Red Sea and if you meet one, you will feel the aftereffects of your unpleasant encounter for a good while. (My pain lasted over a month.)

So, a word to the wise is sufficient. If you wade in the Red Sea, watch out for sea urchins. Better yet, just enjoy the view from the beach!  :)

The Valley of Ajalon

Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. 

And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. 

And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel. 

Joshua 10:12-14

We took these photos from Ayalon Canada Park. The Ajalon/Ayalon Valley is beautiful, but this wide, mostly-flat plain has hosted numerous bloody battles throughout history, perhaps the most famous being the one Joshua's men fought. Here is where Joshua commanded the moon and sun to stand still. An amazing story. 

During Israel's War of Independence in 1948, this valley again saw bloodshed, as Israel's young life successfully fought for survival. 

God's Artwork

Israel is a land of great geographical diversity. Here are two photos of rock formations we took on our way to the central Israel-Jordan (Allenby-King Hussein) land border crossing.

God is an amazing artist. We do not have to look far in our natural surroundings to find evidence of His handiwork. Even something as simple as a tree or as common as a sunset is a reminder of His ability and amazing attention to detail. 

Jaffa

We have only visited Jaffa once and it was late at night, but our brief visit gave us perspective for the biblical city of Joppa. 

It was at Joppa, now known as Jaffa, that Jonah caught the slow boat to Tarshish (Jonah 1:3). 

Joppa was Tabitha's hometown. She died and disciples called for Peter who was in Lydda, a nearby city. He prayed for Tabitha and God raised her from the dead (Acts 9:36-42).

Peter was in Joppa when God gave him a vision to let him know that the gospel was not just for the Jews, but the Gentiles as well. Cornelius, a Gentile, obeyed the voice of God and sent men to Joppa and asked Peter to come to his house in Caesarea and teach him about God. 

As a result of these events, Cornelius and his household were baptized in Jesus' name and filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 10). This was the first record of Gentiles receiving "the promise" given to the Jews in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:1-4).

Shekalim

To Moses, the Lord said, "This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD" (Exodus 30:13). 

• Shekalim is the plural form of shekel, Israel's currency. 

• Pictured below are a shekel (left) and half-shekel (right). 

• One shekel is equivalent to about 25 cents.

• Bills are used for larger shekel amounts.