A Face Like Flint
While traveling in the Negev (southern Israel) our teacher took us on a “wee little walk”. Because we had been with her for over two weeks our small group knew exactly what that meant! Something hot and rocky and long and treacherous. But we also knew that this “wee little walk” would reveal sights we had never seen before and God would reveal a deeper level of His word to us as we struggled along.
A WEE LITTLE WALK
The Negev in late June can be a deadly place. We had to carry lots of water and arm ourselves with inner fortitude. We hiked the bed of a tall crevasse with a wall of rock on either side of us. The road we hiked was certainly the one less traveled, full of large rocks and boulders and a small path that had been worn by hikers before us.
THE ROCKS OF THE NEGEV
The Negev was a great classroom to learn many things about God and His word. I can only imagine what the walls of rocks had heard over the years from our amazing teacher.
The rock formations were stark and yet so incredibly beautiful! The long, variegated bands of sedimentary rock were created over time by the movement of the earth. Beautiful, breathtaking, and daunting!
One layer of the face of the crevasse stuck out. Not light in color like the rest of the sediment layers, but a back line running horizontally through it like someone had taken a paintbrush and painted black stripes here and there on the rock.
It was here in the Negev that I learn a beautiful truth about Jesus as He…
“RESOLUTELY SET HIS FACE TO GO TO JERUSALEM”. Luke 9:51
JESUS AND HIS MINISTRY
Jesus’ three and one half year ministry was coming to a close. He knew His “time had come”, a phrase used often in the book of John to describe His going back to the Father in glory.
Jesus knew the reason for coming to earth. His primary ministry was not to teach or to be a Rabi. Not even to heal. The reason Jesus came to planet earth was to die! To die a violent and unjust death as prophesied in the Old Testament. He was to be sacrificed for all the sins of man.
His ministry was to die in my place and your place for our sins and save us from an eternity separated from God in Hell.
So what does that have to do with rocks in the Negev?
Jesus, as He finished His ministry in the Galilee knew that His destiny lay in Jerusalem.
AND IT CAME ABOUT IN WHEN THE DAYS WERE APPROACHING FOR HIS ASCENSION, THAT HE RESOLUTELY SET HIS FACE TO GO TO JERUSALEM. Luke 9:51
Jesus was under no compulsion to go to Jerusalem to die for us. It was His own choice!
FACE LIKE FLINT
Isaiah 50:7 prophesize the resolute nature of Jesus to face the cross and obtain the glory set before Him…
FOR THE LORD GOD HELPS ME, THEREFORE, I AM NOT DISGRACED; THEREFORE, I HAVE SET MY FACE LIKE FLINT, AND I KNOW THAT I SHALL NOT BE ASHAMED.
Flint, the back lines running through the bone-colored rock of the Negev. The very black lines I saw!
Did you know that flint when struck by steel sparks? It is hard. Harder than the other rock that makes up the Negev we traveled through.
Jesus set his face like the flint in the walls of the Negev. So resolute and unshakable to get to Jerusalem to complete His true mission on earth. The passion and cross and then the glory!
I often think of the Negev and the many lessons I learned there. And as Resurrection approaches, I think about the long lines of flint layered into the rock. And I think about my resolute Savior! A Savior who set His face like flint to endure the cross for me.
WHAT I AM MEMORIZING THIS WEEK
And I pray…
Lord, please help me to set my face like flint towards my Savior!
Here’s what I’m memorizing this week.
FOR THE LORD GOD HELPS ME, THEREFORE, I AM NOT DISGRACED; THEREFORE, I HAVE SET MY FACE LIKE FLINT, AND I KNOW THAT I SHALL NOT BE ASHAMED. Isaiah 50:7
MORE SUNDAY POSTS
These posts will help you understand the character and love of Jesus.
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How blessed we are to have this living hope!
HAPPY EASTER everyone!
Happy Easter to you!
And to you too!
He is risen, is alive, and coming again!!–it could be today!! Thank you for the thoughts.
How blessed we are that Jesus loved us so much, that he gave his life for us and our sins!
Thank you Yvonne, for taking us on your journey to Israel and for sharing the love of our Savior!
What a privilege it must have been to witness the rock formations of Negev. I feel as though I were there with you. Thank you Yvonne and have a great sunday.
Hallelujah He is risen, what a Savior!
Thank you for sharing your journey to the Holy Land with us. I love how you take a verse from the Bible and put it into perspective on how it applies to us today. Thank you!
I have so enjoyed you sharing your time in Israel. Through your journey you have given life to Gods word! Thank you!
Thank you for using your platform to reach and teach so many of the love and the sacrifice Jesus
made for us!
Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful story of Jesus’ love for us! This is the same scripture, Luke 9:51, that our pastor preached from this morning! I am going to share your story with him!
How blessed we are that Jesus died for our sins and gave us such eternal hope!
Thanks again!
Yvonne, thank you for this beautiful story about your time in Israel and a lesson from the Bible.
So very thankful you have a teaching spirit! Even though we do not live close, I , too, am benefitting from your gift. Thank you, and if I could ask you, please, keep teaching me!
In eagerness I read these posts on Israel. My husband’s boss left for a Study there with a group led by the pastor of their church. To see the flint in the rock makes this verse more vivid. Thank you for turning me to look to Jesus.
Wonderful post!
Really enjoyed your post!!
Your sweet messages about our Savior are so comforting as we make our way through the Lenten season. Thank you for sharing your journey through Israel with us.
Oh, how he loves us! He is coming again and every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that He is Lord. Such beautiful imagery of Jesus coming again through the clouds on a white horse for all who believe! Happy Easter to all!!
Yvonne, I enjoy your posts so much, you have a gift for teaching. When you went to Israel, did you go on a tour? How did you plan your trip? This is on my bucket list and I’d love to hear the details on how the trip came about for you and the trip itself. Planning details, etc! Thank you!
Hi Michelle, My trip to Israel was to study the Jewish roots of the Christian Faith. We toured and had in-depth study of Jewish culture, ancient Jewish culture, the language of Hebrew and the life and culture around Jesus all using the Bible as it’s primary source. We had two FABULOUS guides that were Messianic Jews and they opened my eyes up to so much I would have never learned if I had not gone on this trip. I studied through Alexander College in old city Jerusalem. My sister-in-law’s church sponsored this trip and 34 people were in our group. I think St Peter’s Way Travel took us to Israel but we did not partake in their program. I hope this helps a little.
I was so happy to find this part of your site. God Bless you
The “wee little walk” was a cute way to describe a trek. Liked your descriptions of the views you saw. Spiritual insights from your journey are priceless. Thanks for sharing your experience.
I have learned decorating ideas as well as diy projects ideas. Your pictures are very enlightening and artistic. I look forward to your posts.
Thanks for being “a voice in the wilderness” that’s cheerful in our weird world.
So thoroughly enjoyed you short message and happy for to have had that experience. It help me to understand the meaning behind what my appear to be an ordinary rock but as we know there is nothing ordinary of the man Jesus our Lord and Christ. May the Lord continue to use you.
Didn’t know this about flint.
Now I get it.
Thank you
I KNOW! It’s amazing when you understand the time and culture and surroundings the Bible was written in. What a blessing!
Hello Yvonne,
I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your Christian-focused emails. You are a very talented writer and communicator, and I look forward to receiving every morsel of wisdom from you. In a world that is becoming increasingly anti-Christ, you carry the message boldly. Thank you for using your platform to reach as far into this lost world as you do.
Most sincerely,
LeAnn Austin
How blessed we are that Christ give his life for us. That was a great lesson also about flint. Thanks and Happy Easter to you, your family, and all your readers. Anne from NC.
Yes, we are blessed!
As I read a face like Flint I was sure you were talking to me. I have been bedridden for almost 3 months due to a painful infection. Everyday I pray that the pain will end and I will be back to “normal”. Everyday I realize what the Son of God went through for us. I will read this over and over again. Thank you
Yvonne- thank you for this wonderful devotional. What a powerful image!
Diane