En Gedi Wilderness 1.0

“Then Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. … And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi.” 1 Samuel 23:28-29

Maybe you’ve been wondering why the pictures on the website are of a desert canyon? The canyon in the picture is a place called En Gedi that is located just up from the dead sea in Israel.

There are two reasons for this choice of picture and location.

Let me share the first one:

I had the opportunity to go to En Gedi in 2017 and this canyon is one of my favourite places I’ve ever been to. It reminds me of Lynn Canyon in North Vancouver where I live. Both places are like a natural waterpark with clear pools and cliff jumping! Essentially both places are free water parks that God designed for our enjoyment. I would argue that even the best manmade waterparks meet their match with Lynn Canyon and En Gedi!

Now imagine with me going back to the time of David before he is King.

He has sacrificed and put his life on the line in countless battles for King Saul and Israel. Yet because of his fame as one of Saul’s generals, Saul became jealous, turned on David and made him run for his life.

David and his crew of men have been running through the hot dry desert for a long time. They are exhausted, demoralized, utterly stinky and thirsty. Then they come to a crest overlooking of a canyon and cannot believe their eyes! Down at the bottom are clear pools of water fed by two fresh water springs. But that’s not all, there are the first green plants they have seen in days and cool caves (strongholds) to hide and sleep in! I can imagine these men, hooting and hollering, throwing off their armour and gear and full send jumping into the water, laughing and having the best time in months.

En Gedi is a place of refuge and restoration in a dry and weary and difficult season.

Do you have a place you can go to that restores your soul in the midst of a difficult season?

Take some time this week and go to a place of refuge and lean on the Lord in His creation for a time of restoration for your soul.