Day 5: Yardenit Jordan River

Where the Jordan river flows out of the Sea of Galilee

Josh

Theresa

Lots from our group got immersed in the water of the Jordan. It was a special time. We got a teaching from Ben that the biblical baptism was a lot like going to Mikva (a ritual bath). A person would go into the Mikva when they got married or when they went to the Temple.

The Jordan is a very narrow river. It doesn't flow very fast at this time of year.

In Israel the people have to preserve water all the time. Drip irrigation was invented there.

The Lord brought the Israelites to a land dependent on rain.

In Deuteronomy 11 He said he would bring rain if the people obey:

"So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul—then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied"

BUT...

"Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. Then the LORD's anger will burn against you, and he will shut the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the LORD is giving you"

This picture is actually from the day before, but I put it here because on this day there was an enormous amount of people biking around the lake. The bus had trouble to get into traffic because of them because they kept coming.