Page 8 - Holyland Magazine - 2025 Edition
P. 8

I n the western Negev of Israel, where             In this land, prophecy is not just a story of       Tourism as Ministry: A Journey with
      the ancient streams of Gerar and             the past—it is unfolding before our eyes.           Purpose
      Besor still flow, lies a land rich in        October 7 Changed Everything—But Not                Travelers to Israel often come seeking
      biblical history—a land that whispers        the Spirit                                          spiritual connection, but in the Besor
      the stories of Abraham, Isaac, and           The terror attack of October 7, 2023, scarred       region, they find something even deeper:
Jacob. Here, Scripture doesn’t just speak—it       the nation, especially the communities near         the opportunity to participate in a living
breathes.                                          the Gaza border. Life here was shattered.           testimony of faith. Tourism here is not just
This is the land where Abraham walked.             And yet, in the shadow of that dark day,            rest—it’s restoration. Every stay, every meal,
According to Jewish tradition, it was in           something remarkable has taken root:                every encounter supports communities
Gerar, near today’s Nahal Gerar, that he           resilience, renewal, and a deepened sense of        that stand as modern pioneers—people of
journeyed with his family and entered into         purpose.                                            courage, conviction, and vision.
the covenant of circumcision with God—a            “I don’t call it October 7 tourism,” says the       When you visit, you become part of
moment that established him as a man of            regional tourism director. “I talk about            something greater. You help sustain families
faith and divine destiny. Isaac too dwelled        October 6, 7, and 8—because we were here            who work the land as their ancestors once
in this region, digging wells and defending        before, we lived through that‘Black Sabbath,’       did. You bless those who bless the land. In
access to life-giving water. His story reminds     and we are still here after. With unwavering        this way, your journey becomes a form of
us of the enduring covenant with God and           faith that good will return to this land.”          ministry—an act of faith in action.
the steadfast protection of His blessings.         Tourism in the Besor region is no longer            Come Pray Where the Bible Comes Alive
For those who walk these paths today,              about sightseeing alone—it’s about                  Imagine opening your Bible beside the Besor
the connection to biblical prophecy is             witnessing the miracle of life itself. It is about  stream, reading the story of Abraham not as
undeniable. The very act of Jewish life            meeting the people who chose to stay, to            distant history, but right where it happened.
returning and flourishing in these ancient         rebuild, and to believe—every day, every            The physical proximity brings spiritual
lands is, for many, the fulfillment of Scripture.  moment.                                             intimacy. Here, you can walk the paths of

  A JOURNEY THROUGH
  THE LAND OF THE
  PATRIARCHS

      From Gerar to Besor – the beating heart of Israel

8 l HOLY LAND
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