“And the Lord said unto Abram: ‘Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art, northward and southward and eastward and westward. For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.” (Genesis 13:14-15).
God spoke to Abraham at Mount Hatzor. He commanded him to climb up the mountain, and survey the land. Today, on that same mountain, there is an army base. This is because this mountain offers views of almost the entire country, in every single direction. Mount Hatzor is located in Samaria, in Israel’s Biblical Heartland. It is the place where countless Biblical stories occurred, and yet many members of the international community condemn Israel’s presence there.
The Jewish people have a positive commandment to go and explore the Land of Israel. God wants us to go out and explore, wander the land, and get to know every mountain, every valley, every river, and every mile of this breathtaking land. But why is it so important to explore Israel so in-depth?
Bible study is very important, and for thousands of years the Jewish people could only try to imagine what was happening. Now, we are blessed with the Land of Israel, and we have the privilege of exploring the land, Bible in hand, and seeing for yourself where exactly these stories took place. In order to truly understand the stories of the Bible. Pictures the paths that our forefathers walked, understand the battle tactics of Jonathan, and more, one must go out and see the land for them self.
Another reason why exploring the Land of Israel is so important is because it is a precious gift from God. God showed it to Abraham and promised him every inch of the land. When someone give you such a tremendous gift, you analyze it, look it and, and truly get to know it. We want to know the layout of the land, how it works, and our nation’s history. We show God how much we appreciate the blessing of the Land by going out and exploring it.
If you take the time to explore the land, you will discover Israel’s remarkably diverse landscape. You have cold mountains in the north, where people enjoy skiing and water sports. You have the sea of Galilee, which is the world’s lowest freshwater lake at 209 meters below sea level. Head south for desert, mountains, the Dead Sea which is the lowest point on earth, and boasts healing mineral waters. And, in Israel’s center, you have Jerusalem, King David’s capital and the eternal capital of Israel and the center of the world.
