A Host Beside

If the Lord could help me to weave all of the bits of beauty and thoughts I have had on our journey in the last couple of days, I believe it will be one of His first miracles of this trip. He has promised that He is with me, and I receive it!

Friday morning, stateside, I awoke very early… too early. There was no reason for me to be awake at 4am except the Lord wanted to meet with me before we left. My heart had been stirred greatly about those who had obeyed, those who had sacrificed, and those who had, literally, lain down their lives during this season. Many of you know that joining us on this trip is the dear Mrs. Jana Dunn. Earlier this year, she walked through the valley of the shadow of death as her life companion was promoted to glory. Rodney Dunn was a pastor to many and a dear friend to everyone he ever met. It was Rodney who the Lord wanted me to meet with in communion on Friday morning. You see, a year ago we were in his home. He preached to us a three-minute message that is probably his last recorded sermonette. Facing your penultimate transition to eternity, you cannot help but be honest. Things that possessed so much of our thought lives, simply, do not matter any longer. You are left with the bare truth.

What was this commission? This word? – The importance of obedience. The joy of obeying. The host of heaven that stand in wrapt attention of our pressing to see God’s will come on earth as, they are very aware, already is in heaven. What does obedience looks like on heaven’s side!? As I listened to his words (that you can see in the video below), I realized he was now of this host.

What many may not know is that this trip to Israel may not have happened without his pressing. My father, Rev. Thomas Young, received a call from Pastor Rodney, Jana, and Georgine. They lovingly encouraged and covered my dad in prayer, so that he had the courage to come during this season. You see, we normally do not come during the high holy days or feasts. Jerusalem is so crowded and the prices sky rocket, but the Lord had put it on Rev. Young’s heart to be here during Sukkot and the final Blood Moon Tetrad (see picture for significance of tetrad), which we will witness early tomorrow morning. Roby, our Israeli tour organizer, got us special permission (“No Problem!”) for security to allow us on the rooftop pool to see the full lunar eclipse tomorrow at 5:30am.

As we were approaching the hotel this evening, Meir shared with us that before there were calendars, the ancient Jewish people went by the lunar calendar. He said that two witnesses would observe the moon and testify before the court, in agreement, of what season they were in based on the moon. Here we come to witness the moon and testify to this season belonging to the Lord. What season are we in?

It was on Meir’s, our Israeli guide’s, heart to welcome us to the city. He made a special side stop on our way. Being that it was still Shabbat all of the stores were closed except for his Arab Israeli friends in a little village. We pulled our bus into a bustling neighborhood and the manager of the restaurant joyfully brought out fresh, warm pita to the tour bus. As we stood on Mount Scopus and looked over the Old City and the Mount of Olives, the walls were bathed in light from the setting sun, and she really is the City of Gold. Meir shared that one of the welcome blessings is to break bread with salt. He said, “Your past, your religion, your faith started in this city. This is your city. When I say, ‘Welcome to Jerusalem’, I really mean, ‘Welcome Home.’”

We repeated the blessing after Meir and received our welcome to the City of Our God, Jerusalem.

When I think of Rodney, his words, and his longing for this trip and the people that were on it, I know that he is in wrapt attention at what obediences lay ahead, and I can hear his shouts as he cheers us on from Heaven’s side. We stand on his assurance that this is the hour we are to be here. We stand on the joy of the Arab restaurant manager to supply us bread for breaking. We stand on the welcome blessing of our Jewish guide (and friend) Meir. We hold fast to the calling to love Israel and her people, and to pray for her peace and prosperity. To declare this season in love and unwavering belief. We stand on the ones who carved a place in our hearts for the Holy Land. May “their ceiling become our floor.”  The host of heaven watches this hour, longing for us to obey.

Two weeks ago, we were privileged to be in services with Rev. Jerry Keller’s congregation at Plainfield Christ Fellowship in Plainfield, IN. Emory Rees was in attendance during the final service. It was God who placed a love for Israel in Pastor Emory’s heart in the 1960’s, long before many were journeying here. It was through him that Rev. Loran Helm began journey after journey here, which is what has lead us to come when the Lord calls for us. Rev. Rees, having made this trek more times than can be counted, saw many unexplainable miracles, divine connections, and had a front row seat to many of the beautiful stories we often review. He stood in the service two weeks ago and said simply, “This trip, you are about to take, may be the most important of all the others.” We hold these words in focus as we begin today, the start of our journey during this season of the latter rain.