1. The Israelite Exodus From Egypt

2. Egypt and Sinai Peninsula Our journey starts in Egypt, where the Israelites livedfor 430 years before the Exodus (c. 1446 BC). From Cairo, we retraced the route followed by Mosesthrough the wilderness to Mount Sinai - home to St.Catherine, the oldest Christian Monastery in theworld. It was built during the reign of EmperorJustinian (527-565 AD) on the site where Mosesencountered the burning bush. 3. The Route of the Exodus Map 4. Mount Sinai The Burning Bush growing at St. Catherine is believed tobe from the original root-stock of the bush from whichGOD identifies himself to Moses and orders him back toEgypt to lead the Israelites out of captivity. After leading the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses returns toMt. Sinai where GOD gives him the Ten Commandmentswritten on stone tablets; plans for building the Ark of theCovenant in which to house the stone tablets; andinstructions for building a tabernacle. Our over-night trek up Mt. Sinai took 31/2 hours on camel-back followed by a climb of 750 steps to reach the summitof the mountain just before sunrise. 5. Mount Sinai to Jordan Heading north toward Jordan, we crossed through theWilderness of Paran, where the Israelites continued towandered for 40 years - as a death sentence for those whorefused to enter the Promised Land when they first had thechance to do so. They were placed in a holding patternuntil all of the disobedient and cowardly ones of adult agehad died off (Numbers 32:10-13). Traveling from Egypt to Jordan requires crossing throughEilat, Israel - a 10 mile stretch - from the Taba Borderstation to the Wadi Araba Border station. Formalities atthe Egyptian, Israeli, and Jordanian border crossingstations took about 21/2 hours. 6. The Kings Highway Crossing into Jordan, we continued to Petra via theKings Highway - an ancient Incense Route that linkedthe Mediterranean world with the Eastern sources ofincense and spices. Frankincense and Myrrh, two ofthe items actively traded along this route, are aromaticresins from trees growing in Arabia and are used asincense and perfumes. The Three Wise Men might have traveled this routewith their gifts for baby Jesus. 7. Map of Jordan 8. Land of the Edomites and Moabites Petra, established around 1500 BC, was an ancient citycarved from the mountains along the border of theKingdoms of Edom and Moab. Edomites (Hebrew for redpeople) were descendants of Esau, son of Isaac. Moabiteswere descendants of Lot, son of Haram, and Lots olderdaughter. The settlement was captured by the Nabataeans(ancient nomadic tribes from Arabia) in the 6th century BCto control the incense and spice trade along the KingsHighway. In 1917, T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) led a group ofSyrians and Arabians defending Petra from the Turks &Germans. 9. Petra to Tel Aviv From Petra, we headed north to Amman, Jordan , andthen to Mt. Nebo, where Moses first saw the PromisedLand. Moses died without entering the Promised Landand Joshua assumed command of the Israelites. We crossed the Israel border at the Allenby Bridge justeast of Jericho, and continued westward to the ancientcoastal city of Jaffa (Joppa) just south of Tel Aviv one of the oldest port cities on earth. Cedars ofLebanon that were used in the construction ofSolomons Temple were landed at Joppa. 10. Map of Israel 11. Tel Aviv to Tiberius From Tel Aviv, we traveled north to the ancient port city ofCaesarea. Built by Herod the Great, as Caesarea Maritima,it was the center of early Christianity. Here, the ApostlePeter baptized the first Gentile convert to Christianity Cornelius, a centurion in the Roman army. Next we headed east to Tiberius on the banks of the Sea ofGalilee. Along the way we stopped at Mount Carmel (whereElijah challenged the false prophets); Megiddo (ancientcity that was built and destroyed 25 times); the JezerelValley (where the Battle of Armageddon will be fought);Nazareth (home village of Joseph and May); and Cana ofGalilee, (where Jesus performed his first miracle water towine for the wedding). 12. Sea of Galilee We spent two days sightseeing around the Sea ofGalilee that included visits to Capernaum (where Jesuspreformed many of his miracles), Mount of Beatitudes(where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount),Church of the Multiplication (where Jesus fed themultitudes with 5 loaves and 5 fishes), and CaesareaPhilippi (where Jesus first revealed himself to Peter asthe Messiah). One of the highlights was sailing around the Sea ofGalilee on a Jesus Boat. 13. Map of Galilee 14. Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea Following the Jordan River southward, we stopped at Yardenit(little Jordan), a baptismal site on the Jordan River, where somebelieve Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. Further south, we visited Beih Shean, the Canaanite city that wasconquered by the Philistines, in the 11th Century BC. Later, inthe 11th century, King Sauls body was displayed on the city wallsafter his defeat by the Philistines. Overlooking the Dead Sea, at Qumran, we saw the caves wherethe Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered by a shepherd boy in 1947. We rode a cable car to the top of Masada - famous for being thesite of the last stronghold of the Jewish Rebellion against theRomans in 63 AD. 15. Jerusalem and Bethlehem We spent three days in Jerusalem visiting manybiblical sites including: Mount of Olives, Garden ofGethsemane, the Old Walled City, Mount Zion,Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and we walked the ViaDolorosa, which is held to be the path that Jesuswalked, carrying his cross, on the way to hiscrucifixion. In Bethlehem, we visited the birth place of Jesus at theChurch of the Nativity. 16. Interesting Israel Facts The State of Georgia has 59,000 square miles ofterritory and 9 million residents. Metro Atlanta has 8,000 square miles of territory and 5million residents. The State of Israel has 8,000 square miles of territoryand 7 million residents, but 4,000 square miles ofIsraels territory is uninhabitable desert areas. The distance from Nazareth to Capernaum is 6 miles an easy half-day walk. Jesus grew-up, lived most of thislife, and conducted most of his Ministry within thisarea of Galilee. 17. Israel vs State of GeorgiaSize Comparison 18. Into the Promised LandDVD Musical Selections Sara Brightman: Its A Beautiful Day Deliver Me Who Wants To Live Forever A Questions of Honour Just Show Me How To Love You Celine Dion: Miles To Go Before I Sleep Where Is the Love Love Is On The Way Tell Him (duo with Barbara Streisand) Susan Boyle: How Great Thou Art Amazing Grace Elefante Beville I Will Follow You 19. Into The Promised LandDVD Titles and Bible References The DVD shows highlights of our tour of the Holy Lands and contains titles and bible references to describe each of the sites visited. Thank YouPlease Enjoy the Presentation