The day came for me to leave for my third trip to Israel. The decision to travel to the Land had come very quickly due to multiple reasons. Somehow I knew I was to return at this particular time – the time between the grape harvest and olive harvest.
I knew I needed to be in Israel on site for a project I was working on, but there were also other reasons that began to rise to the surface; including a drawing back and a hunger to return to the Land where it all began. I knew somehow this was to be a time of getting closer to (Elohim) God – the real El of the Bible. My wife and I were in agreement and that our separation would only bring us closer together in the end.
I leaped out in faith and purchased my ticket to Israel. I had been going back and forth between different days and times specifically to arrange a surprise for my mom who was already in Israel. She did not know I was coming, so it was a big surprise to her when I arrived. I even got her good friend in on the surprise to help me with making it a very exciting event. Along with many other reasons, I knew I must pick the correct date to leave. The return date was already set because I would leave not only on the same day as my mom but also on the same flight.
So, with all of the juggling of dates and times, I found one that worked and that was at a decent price. I purchased my ticket not knowing of the total length of time I would be in Israel. After I purchased the ticket, I added up the total days and it came out to be 40. The number 40 is a highly significant number in Scriptures so you can imagine what joy I felt when I found out I would be in the Land of Israel for 40 days. What a confirmation that was! I held onto this confirmation because I had gone back and forth with my reasoning to go or not to go to Israel at this time, however I decided to leap out and take that step to show my Elohim I was serious about what He had planned for me while in Israel.
It’s like I knew I was to go but wrestled with myself trying to justify my going. Father knew I would go through this ‘back and forth’ struggle time with my decision to go, so once I stepped out and purchased the ticket, the confirmations began to flow.
I have been a faithful follower of Israel365 ever since the day that they introduced the song “Monday” by Shirei Halevi’im. Ever since I heard that song, I knew that Israel365 was something I needed daily to help me stay connected with His Land. It was during this time that I first contacted Rabbi Tuly Weisz about how much Israel365 meant to me. I sent him a picture of a sunset over the Mediterranean Sea I had taken on my first visit to Israel in 2011. He published my email and also used my photo as one of the daily photos. I thanked him for using my photo and mentioning my email. Over the next year, I did my best to stay in touch with him and his work.
When I got my ticket to Israel, I felt the need to email Tuly about it and when I would be in the country. I knew I was to be in Jerusalem the first week I was here, so I mentioned to him that I would like to possibly meet with him while there. A few days later, in fact it was just a few days before my departure, he wrote me back and agreed to meet me in Jerusalem. I was delighted and so excited because I wanted to meet the man who’s work had touched me, my wife and my family so much.
As I prepared to go, I knew I still needed that ‘confirmation’ from El that I was suppose to be in Israel at this particular time. I wanted to make sure it was His Mo’edim (divine appointment) and not my own doing. Quite interesting, was an email my mom had sent me a few days before I was to leave. She began describing all of the significant events that occurred in the Bible pertaining to 40 days. How strange to receive that email when I had just counted up my days in Israel to be exactly 40 days.
On the day I was to leave, I got up and got my cup of coffee and sat down in my chair. Still a little uneasy about my decision to leave, I opened my email, and as faithful as the sunrise, there was Israel365 in my inbox. It had arrived right at 7:00am Eastern Standard Time. When I opened the email and saw the verse for the day, I was in shock. The verse for that day, the morning of the day I was to go to the Land of Israel (my eternal home) was Genesis 31:13:
“Now arise, leave this land and return to your native Land.”
If I ever needed a confirmation that day, that moment, it was that one. I felt the Creator of the universe Himself was saying to me – Go now, arise and leave this land of exile and return home to “YOUR” Land. I was thrilled beyond imagination!
I arrived in Tiberias the next day and the surprise went off without a hitch. Upon arriving just in time for Shabbat, I came up the stairs with my luggage and a Shabbat dinner in my hand that my mom’s friend had given me down in the parking lot where we previously arranged to meet. This was her friend’s way of helping me with the surprise as she had called my mom and said that one of her kids was coming over to bring me Shabbat dinner. So, as I began the walk up the stairs to my moms apartment, her friend called my mom from the parking lot and said that the dinner was here and was being brought up to her by a nice young man. Little did my mom know, the nice young man was ME!
She opened the door and as I was walking up the stairs, I said, “Shabbat Shalom” which echoed in the stairwell. Later, mom said she didn’t recognize the voice but when she saw me round the last flight of stairs, she stood in shock and kept asking me what I was doing here. She still remembers perfectly the ‘grin’ I had on my face when I came up the stairs to greet her. It was a marvelous reunion! The 7000 miles it took to get here was worth it all just to see her face in that one moment in time.
The next morning, after I got up, the second confirmation came. I got my coffee and walked over to the third story window of the apartment that opens up over Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) and I took in the view! I looked over to my left and there in all her beauty was Mt. Hermon. I thought of the dew that waters the mountains of Zion as it says in Psalm 133:3. I went and sat down and opened my email. There was Israel365 and what I saw was another shock to me. The picture that day (the second day of my journey to the Land) was the snowcapped mountains of the Golan Heights and Mt. Hermon – the very mountains I was looking at out of that window. Once again, Israel365 was used to confirm my purpose for being in the Land at this time.
The next day, I left Tiberias and travelled to Jerusalem. Who wouldn’t want to be in the city where Elohim put His Name forever and ever? I love going there to be with the people and spend time in the City of David. It says in 1 Chronicles 11:5, that the City of David is Zion. It is called ancient Jerusalem. The verse says: “And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come hither. Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion, which is the city of David.” Sitting in the City of David, is my favorite thing to do while in Jerusalem. There is so much peace there, and knowing that a good portion of the Psalms were written right there in that place by King David, is enough to really draw your heart closer to Abba. After all, if it says in Psalm 132:13,14 that Yah desires and chooses Zion for His dwelling and resting place forever, I might also consider doing the same!
When I returned to my hotel room, I opened up my email and found Israel365 sitting in my inbox. The verse of the day was Jeremiah 3:14 which says, “I shall take you one from a city and two from a family and I will bring you to Zion.” WOW, I exclaimed! Here was my third confirmation that I was suppose to be in the Land at this time. It seemed as though Israel365 was trailing my every step but I quickly learned that it was Father who was using Israel365 as a confirmation tool and a road sign for me. My first three days in Israel were confirmed by three different, consecutive emails from Israel365!
When I finally got a chance to meet Tuly, the man behind Israel365, I told him of my journey here and how his work was used to help me confirm that I was supposed to be here in the Land of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for 40 days. I believe Elohim uses people as just one of His ways to speak to His people and to bring them confirmations that they are on the right path.
I write this short story to not only give my Creator all the praise but to share my heart with our readers that if you will step out in faith to follow what you feel in your heart is the right thing to do, then, Elohim will bring the confirmation. Oftentimes, the confirmation that you are suppose to do something does not come until you step out and do something. Elohim cannot direct a parked car. Only until you set that car in motion, can He guide, steer and direct your footsteps.
So, get in the car, start moving out and follow those signs along the road. How do you know if you are moving in the right direction if your not moving forward to begin with? I am glad I got in ‘my car’ and started moving out towards the destination He had/has for me. How did I know I was on the right road you might ask? I simply ‘checked my email’ and the “road signs” were right there waiting for me to discover!
Thank you, Tuly, for your heart and for the amazing work you pour forth over each and every day. I pray that as Israel365 was used to help guide my path, that it will also continue to be used to guide others on their journey of drawing near to the heart of the Creator Himself – the true Elohim of the Bible and the Eternal Protector of Israel!
What a stunning witness!
Thank you for this