The Ark of the Covenant and Samson

     After being stolen by the Philistines, passed around to a few cities, plaguing a few Philistines, the Ark of the Covenant was finally returned to the Israelites at none other than Beth Shemesh! This was our first stop and let me tell you, it was a beauty! The whole hill was covered in red anemone; a really common wildflower here.
     I really like the story of the Ark being returned. The Philistines had kept it as a spoil of war but every city that had it kept getting plagued. And so they decided, ok we'll put it on this cart and have milk cows carry it. But first, we're going to take their unweaned calves from them. Then, we're not going to lead them. But if somehow they leave their calves and happen to walk back to the Israelites, then we know that they are supposed to have the ark. Well guess what! They did just that. It was so much fun to stand on top the hill and look down into the valley and imagine seeing the cows pulling the beloved Ark behind them. I can just imagine the people running out to get it. Celebrating that night because of the miracle....and then thousands of people dying because they looked in the ark. Well, I guess not every story has a happy ending!

Some pretty anemones on the walls of Beth Shemesh

    This was also the valley where Samson spent most of his life. If you look at the picture below, Samson was raised on the hill on the very far right side. (fun fact: his first wife was from the Timnath: it's the spot that's above the little yellow sand strip) He was promised as a Nazarite from birth. With this, he was promised many blessings and strengths from the Lord. Unfortunately, Samson took his vow lightly and broke his covenant in many ways. Because of this, his strength was taken from him in the end. God promises us many blessings just as He did to Samson, however, if we do not live up to our potential than those will just be lost opportunities. The story of Samson is a good reminder to take another look at your patriarchal blessing and ask yourself: Am I living up to my privilege? What does God have in store for me?