[Lessons from Israel] Part 1:Why is Israel The Promised Land?

(This is a photograph of the Jordan River head waters coming down from Mt. Herman)About 4000 years ago God said to Abraham, “I promise you a land that I will show you.”  The Almighty chose Israel. Why?  I venture to guess there are several reasons:Israel is the center of the world, where East meets West.  Mankind has resided there for at least 7000 years based on the Tel (archaelogical dig) of Megiddo.Tiny Israel (60 miles by 320 miles) has been a dry and barren country, completely dependent on the three annual rainy seasons for its ability to sustain life.  God, the Creator and Giver of rain (and plants), has to be active in overseeing mankind’s existence in that land.  If its inhabitants fail to worship Jehovah, their very sustenance is threatened. The land draws the people into dependence on their God.The geography of Israel is a country-size mizphah, a ritual bath.  Water flows from Mt. Herman on the north into the Jordan River, through the Sea of Galilee, and eventually stops in the Dead Sea in the south. The Hebrews used ritual baths, ones that flowed in with clean water and out with dirtied water, as part of their cycle of daily worship. John the Baptizer used the Jordan’s water to wash his repenting disciples.  Jesus of Nazareth used the waters of the Sea of Galilee to reveal miracles to his disciples.In Christ,