Why I Love Israel

People who know me from way back often ask me, “What happened to you?”  This question always comes up and the subject always revolves around Israel!  Friends, put quite simply, Israel happened to me!  About twelve years ago someone told me that, “Once your feet hit the ground in Israel, you are going to have the strangest sensation … you are going to feel like you are HOME!”  When I heard this I smiled and thought – right … but guess what happened?  I really did have that feeling and this, combined with our amazing guide, Jane Ben-Ari, I was hooked, I caught the virus and my life has never been the same!  I had come home to the Land where it all Began and I could not get enough!  Everywhere I turned my Bible came alive.  When I saw the Galilee for the first time, I truly understood why Jesus would call this place home!  And then each time we made our ascent into Jerusalem, tears would fill my eyes and the psalms of ascent would run though my mind!  Jerusalem … the City of our Great King!

But then if that had not been enough, I met a woman, someone who works with terror victims and she asked me if I had had the opportunity to hear the songs of the Land.  Quizzically, I asked her to explain and then she told me about three different songs:  1) the song of the Land; 2) the song of the People of the Land and 3) the song of Yeshua (Jesus).

Now this was over the top for me.  Since I have always been a ‘scratch and sniff’ learner, my pockets were always filled with rocks from various places. I always remembered what Jesus said to the religious when they told him to keep the crowds quiet as they were singing during the Triumphal Entry:  “If they were quiet then the rocks would cry out!”  WOW!  I have found that this land continues to sing its song and the trees of the field are clapping their hands!  Have you heard the song of the Land – the lapping of the waters on the shoreline of Tabgha?  The silent shout from a tomb in a garden that still remains empty today!

And then we have the song of the people.  God is NOT finished with His chosen and they too have a song.  The nation that has risen from the ashes of Auschwitz-Birkenau, Buchenwald, Dachau and Treblinka (and many more) is singing a song today and those who have ears to hear are hearing the cry for the Lord to fill their dry bones once again with the Ruach (Spirit)  of God.  What a privilege to understand how we have been grafted in and the truth that God is NOT finished with Israel today … they will return because even as I am writing, they are returning to the Lord their God!

Finally, (I want you to know that I believe what I am about to write with all my heart!) I believe that no one on their own chooses to come to Israel.  I believe those who come are actually responding to an invitation given by Yeshua.  Yes, I believe that Jesus invites us to come to His Land and while we are here, we need to keep our ears open to hear His Song – it is a song that He has composed just for you … there are no two the same!  Why?  Because He is your God, He knows your name and He has an individualized message just for you!  He is PERSONAL!

So, now you have a better understanding or what happened to me!  Sharon and I are so blessed now to be able to be used by the Lord to extend an invitation to you to come and visit His Land … the Land where it all began! But remember when you come (not if) be sure to keep your ears open in order to hear the triune songs of this very special place!

Is this your year?  We are so excited for our very first Holy Ground Exploration Tour this Fall.  We are calling it a Journey thru Israel.  Please take the time to see the brochure on this site that gives all the details.

Shalom

Dan Stolebarger