I am glad my first impressions are not always accurate. I didn’t like Jerusalem. Don’t misunderstand. The people are cordial! We were never ill treated. The sites and feelings are magnificent! Even the crowds were bearable. If God’s design for Israel (the country) is to foster faith in the one true God, surely Jerusalem, the very “City of God,” must be the pinnacle of belief. Was I ever disappointed! Instead of faith, Jerusalem has “tradition.” Their “tradition” is expressed in many forms.

There is the tradition of the “churches.” By “churches” I mean all the houses of worship (that is, supposed “worship”). For Judaism, there are the Synagogues. For Muslims, the Mosques. Christians are also represented. But our understanding of Christian and the world’s is different. “Christians” in the Middle East are comprised of at the least Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox. I don’t like being lumped together with religions that do not believe the true gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, apart from any works. If they put me in their “Christian” box, then I don’t like Jerusalem!

The “Churches” exist to commemorate a particular Biblical event instead of heralding the risen Christ. For example, in Nazareth, the Catholics have built a huge edifice over Mary’s house because they believe it was there the Angel told Mary she was chosen of God to give birth to Jesus (donations accepted). Down the street, the Greek Orthodox Church maintains the Angel came to Mary at the city well (leave an offering). Now the Mormons are in the business, suggesting a third alternative site for Mary’s Annunciation (pay the fee).

The architecture in the Jerusalem churches is beautiful, some buildings ancient, others modern. The furnishings inside most are elaborate! Stained glass windows, tile mosaics, wall paintings, icons (crosses, statues, tapestries, etc.), and candles depict Biblical events. “Surely God is provoked by such ‘idolatry,’” I thought. Fortunately, for a change, I kept my mouth shut. Then I learned the reason (but didn’t change my mind). In a time, when men were illiterate, these “pictures” served to remind the worshippers of the Scriptures. Why was I so disturbed (please, this is a rhetorical question)?

I was no more repulsed than at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Built over Golgatha is a huge cathedral. Inside, over the very rocks where Christ’s cross stood, a glass case is constructed, to keep would be thieves from taking a souvenir. Then, we were escorted to this boxed shrine within the church. Once inside, we were pushed into an interior closet facing a marble slab. This room, made for two or three, was crowded with seven. I didn’t know what this was or why I was there. I only knew I didn’t like being cramped against the wall. Then the man next to me decided to bow on his knees and kiss the marble slab. Still biting my tongue, I remembered I didn’t like Jerusalem.

At another church I finally understood. This church has the Lord’s Prayer displayed in several languages. The craftsmanship of the building is well done. The setting is tranquil with a good sized courtyard, trees, and flowers. As we were being introduced to the features of this site, our group laughed (not in ridicule, but in response to a comment). Another tour group leader (“The Dragon Lady” as we began to affectionately call her) immediately yelled emphatically from across the courtyard to us, “This-is-a-holy-place!” Now, I understand! Most “pilgrims” come to worship the stone, the marble, the picture or the building; and, if you please, the “tradition.” These sites may well be the actual spots where events in Jesus Christ’s life took place. Comparing the geography, archaeology, and Biblical text truly aids in understanding the Bible. But, I don’t “worship” the site. I definitely didn’t like Jerusalem.

Another tradition is the extremism of Muslims. Several times a day you hear their eerie, shrill call to prayer over loud speakers. Represented in the call to prayer is a belief that their ground is sacred. It is almost as if you could mock Mohammed (the acclaimed leader of Islam), but don’t desecrate “our” ground. One day we were standing between the Dome of the Rock and the “el Aksa” Mosque in the grass adjacent to a sidewalk. After a few moments, we were scolded for not showing reverence. “Please, this is a Mosque!,” we were told. Since we had stepped off the sidewalk and onto the field, we offended this man, even if inadvertently. Did I mention I didn’t like Jerusalem?

The Jews who live in Israel have developed a very interesting “tradition” as well. Because of the “toleration” of Christians and their violent hatred of Muslims, the Government has instituted laws prohibiting proselytizing. It is illegal to actively seek to convert anyone from one “religion” to another. How different from the tradition of our country, where “freedom of religion” is a basic right (given ultimately from God, not our government).

Is there no place in this city, or country that proclaims the truth of God? I was beginning to wonder if my first impression was accurate.

Well, it’s not all gloom and doom, for I bring unto you news of great joy! One ray of hope we were fortunate to visit is near Bethlehem. It is, in fact, called the “House of Hope” for the Blind and Mentally Handicapped. At this time they have more than fifty residents in the home, ranging from seven years old to above ninety. House of Hope is a faith work and labor of Christian love to the blind, mentally challenged, and physically handicapped. Children are schooled. Skills such as wood-carving are taught to young men. Compassion and care are given to the elderly. The Scriptures are preached. In addition to presenting the Lord Jesus Christ, the House of Hope’s goal is to help make their “students” an asset to a society that does not value any deficiency or incapacity. So popular is this ministry, there is a waiting list of over 350 applicants. What a great “tradition” and a much needed ministry.

But God is not necessarily interested in creating traditions. God desires to create faith, and chose Abraham to initiate and expand His message. In Abraham’s quest to help God, it was an ancient “tradition” that planted the seeds for the Islam religion. Ironically, it is the Jewish “tradition” for a political Messiah that keeps those of Jacob’s line from recognizing One of their own kin as sent from God.

Jesus didn’t just start a new tradition, He fulfilled the tradition promised to Abraham, with these words, “I Am the Resurrection and the Life.” We must ask ourselves pointedly, “What is it in ‘our’ Christian ‘tradition’ that hinders or prevents others from believing that the God-Man, Jesus Christ, has already completed man’s redemption by becoming our substitute, exchanging His purity with our sin?

On second thought, I like Jerusalem, because it was there that “the fullness of time” crossed with “it is finished.”

God called a people, the Israelites, to exemplify faith to the world. God prepared a land where the people would best learn and demonstrate their belief in the One True God. In this series on our travels in Israel, I have attempted to relate my understanding of the geography and sites and Biblical events to faith. I think I understand God’s choice of location, at the cross roads of civilization, so that the people of faith would influence the world. It is not difficult to see His purpose in creating this land without a major source of water, instead using rain as a faith builder. But I don’t quite know why God surrounded the Israelites with enemies. How would Israel’s enemies help build their faith in the One God?

In getting to the land, the tiny nation encountered two types of enemies: those outside the land, and those who already occupied the land. Egypt would have chased Israel right into the hands of the Philistines had Israel not altered their course into the barren desert.

In the desert Israel encountered some long lost relatives. As you read the Old Testament, those enemies greatly influenced the Israelites’ faith, and also give an insight into the long-term consequences of sin.

Midian was the fourth son of Abraham, by his second wife, Keturah. The Midianites were mostly nomadic, clashing with Israel on several occasions.

Isaac’s “beloved” son, Esau, had no relationship with God (“Esau have I hated”). His descendants became the Edomites. The most notable conflict between Israel and Edom occurred when Herod the Great (who was from Idumea [the New Testament designation for ‘Edom’]) was appointed governor over the Jews.

Moab and Ammon are Lot’s sons by his two daughters. Neither peoples would allow Israel to travel through their countries. Today, these descendants, primarily the Jordanians, are in relative peace with Israel. But, for how long, this time?

The descendants of Ishmael are another story. Ishmael was Abraham’s son by Hagar, Sarah’s servant. Ishmael’s descendants are composed of the various Arab countries remotely located around Israel: Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, etc. I realize this is a rather simplistic view of a very complex development.

Still, the results can lead to much reflection. What would history be if Abraham had not married Keturah? It was Abraham’s misunderstanding of faith in God that lead to the Midianites. How would the Israelites’ faith be developed if Abraham had not taken Lot when called by God to “leave your family…”? Abraham’s incomplete faith in God made possible the Moabites and Ammonites. What calamities would be avoided if Abraham had refused Hagar? The consequences of Abraham’s disobedient faith in God resulted in the Ishmaelites. I am amazed at the effects and the extent of one man’s “sin” (and at this point, his greatest sin was no faith, and yet Abraham is called “the Father of Faith”).

We could easily focus on man and neglect the better picture here. God always delights in demonstrating His greatness through man’s failures. These “enemies” of Israel are also greatly loved by the God Who created them and died to redeem them from sin!

The enemies outside the land were actually less of a threat to Israel and their faith building than the enemies in the land! Paul explained (Acts 13:19) that the Israelites needed to conquer seven pagan nations which inhabited their promised land. Moses told the new generation of this necessity as well (Deuteronomy 7:1). They were the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. What was so evil about these nations? They worshipped other gods, often called Baal and Asherah. Their religious practices were sexually perverted and sometimes included child sacrifices.

Before we pass judgment, consider our own times: the gods of pleasure, popularity, and profit are esteemed and prized; the current “religious” practices of pornography, sodomy and sexual addiction are the rage; and children are legally “sacrificed” for convenience on a daily basis in clinics all across our land.

Each of these “nations” began as individuals. Ironically, each of these individuals descend ultimately from one man. You may remember Noah had three sons. Shem (Abraham’s ancestor), Ham, and Japheth. Noah demonstrated great faith in God by building, then being delivered by, the Ark. Soon after returning to dry ground, Noah proved that men had not changed. While in a drunken state, his son, Ham, entered Noah’s tent. There are various views on what happened. Maybe some day I will know which one is correct. At this point, I do know that Ham was cursed. Well, actually Ham wasn’t cursed, but his fourth son, Canaan. Why would Canaan take the “rap” for his father? Does God still punish the children for their ancestor’s sin? Canaan was not being “punished” for Ham’s sin. God said that Canaan would bear the greater consequences passed on from Ham. If we are not careful, we will miss the big picture! Notice the extent and the depth of God’s mercy.

He could have easily eliminated Ham and his sons, including Canaan; instead He allowed them to become many “nations” before God would judge their sin. How merciful is God! How merciful is God? Lest we forget, His mercies are “new—every morning”!

Much like the Israelites, we are attacked by enemies without and within. John categorizes our enemies as “the world, the flesh, and the devil.” Our categories seem to revolve around the circumstances. For example, we pray for the sick. Satan hates our bodies as much as our souls because Christ died for our body as well as our soul. With increasing fervor, the world hates the Church (the Body of Christ), because Christ gave His life for her. All our Enemies hate the true gospel of salvation from the wrath of God in the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ alone, by faith through grace, apart from any works.

Our Enemies will do everything possible to destroy godly marriages and families, because as part of God’s plan, they will carry on the gospel in the Church. But, to focus on the Enemies will cause us to miss this beautiful picture of God’s grace. Jesus Christ glories (pleases His Father) in doing for us what we cannot do for ourselves. He is working to bring even us to perfect faith in the One True God.

Jesus perfectly illustrated His desire to develop faith. In response to the Pharisees’ accusations about the blind man He healed (John 9), Jesus began a discourse on the true Shepherd. In John 10, before Jesus said He is the Shepherd, He said, “I am the Door.” We tend to think of a door on hinges. The context here is about sheep and the Shepherd. After securing sheep in the fold, a shepherd would lay in front of the opening to keep the sheep in and to keep predators out. The shepherd, acting as the door, protects the sheep from their enemies. Jesus is not only fully aware of our enemies, but actively protecting us for our benefit.

We learn of the extent of His protection from Psalm 23, “Thou preparest a table for me in the presence of mine enemies.” Without letting down His guard, Jesus Christ is simultaneously providing nourishment for His own. At a table, I am enjoying the graciousness of the host, not anticipating an attack. Remember, we are in His presence, like guests in His house. When our enemies ring the bell, let Him answer, the Door!