Prelude to The Promised Land

I stumbled across this painting a few weeks ago, and fell in love with it immediately.  I'm still not even entirely sure what it is about it that demands my favorable attention...But it also makes me curious because of its title: "The Promised Land."  What about this painting represents the Promised Land?

My mild attempt to study the painting as a result of this question has led me to these observations:

• The painting is...exotic, vibrant, fluid, and teeming with life.
• It contains hidden symbols in the low center: 
• The Star of David has 6 points which symbolize God's authority over the entire universe (the 6 points of north, south, east, west, up, and down).  The star is made up of 2 interlocking triangles, which, among other things, represent God's communal relationship with His people.  (Click the "Star of David" link above for an article with more interesting symbolism!)  This symbol speaks loudly to the Jewishness of the painting. 
• There are three ankh symbols.  The ankh is the "key of life" and is the Egyptian hieroglyph that represents eternal life.  The number three, in Jewish tradition, represents holiness (look through your Bible for this number--it may be enlightening!).
• The infinity symbol "houses" the other symbols and (per Wikipedia) indicates "a quantity without bound or end."  The symbol could also be interpreted as the number eight, which in Jewish tradition symbolizes new beginnings, the return of the Messiah, and creation's restoration to its original perfection.  To indulge a bunny trail...People ask me all the time why, historically, Christians began worshiping on Sunday (the 8th day, the first day of the new week) instead of the Biblically encouraged 7th day.  I never had a good answer, because I never really bothered to research it properly.  Anyway, according to this article, early Christians chose the eighth day, the first day of the new week, specifically and intentionally because it represents the new covenant established by Jesus' death and resurrection.  I like that...a lot.  (I like the Biblical reasons for worshiping on the 7th day, too, but I think the main point is that we are worshiping.)
• At the center of the infinity symbol, of eternal life, is love (notice the heart).
• There are lots of eyes...eyes on birds, eyes on fish, eyes on butterflies, eyes on peacock feathers.  The whole painting seems to watching.  It brings to mind 2 Chronicles 16:9--"For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him..." And Psalm 33:18-19--"But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine."
• Even while the painting overall is bright and hopeful, the background fades away into darkness, danger, instability...like the whole painting is one gusty breath away from being displaced or scattered to the wind.  Or like being one disobedient act away from being scattered to the ends of the earth?  (It IS a Jewish painting, after all.)
• There are fish, a staple food in Israel.  There are date palms, from which comes honey.  There are butterflies, which can symbolize resurrection, new life, freedom, etc.  (Apparently it's also a symbol of the Holocaust because of a poem a Jewish man wrote at that time.)  The center of the most prominent flower seems (to me) to be filled with pomegranate seeds, a symbol of fertility and potentially eternal life.  I found this really cool blog that has a fantastic discussion on pomegranates, if you're interested!  
• There is Hebrew writing in the top right...I would love to have a bigger/clearer copy of this print to see what it says--so curious!
• Please share your own observations!

How to make all of these disparate ideas cohesive?

The Promised Land is a real, physical place in which God reigns supremely and is supremely responsible for sustaining all life.  It is a place where God embraces reciprocal relationship with His people.  It is place where the Lord watches over all in love and in holiness and offers new beginnings and eternal life.  It is a fragile existence, that needs to be maintained. 

But wait--there's more...(tomorrow).

The Lord is Risen!

He is risen, indeed.

Sunrise over Madaba

View from Mt. Nebo looking East

We rose bright and early at 4:30 am for a beautiful sunrise Easter service on the summit of Mt. Nebo, overlooking the Jordan Valley below and Israel beyond.  The kids, amazingly, awoke with sweet, happy smiles.  The view was spectacular, especially since the usual haze of late had mostly lifted. At the foot of Mt. Nebo is the geographical area referred to as the "Plains of Moab," the final Transjordan camping place of the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land to conquer Jericho (which can be seen directly across the valley).  The Plains of Moab are mentioned in Numbers 22ff, when the Moabites out of fear of the Israelites "hired" the prophet Balaam to put a curse on them.  Interestingly, some texts of Balaam son of Beor were found at the nearby site Deir-Alla.  You can read more about that here.  It was also on these plains where Moab seduced Israel into worshiping Baal and brought the Lord's punishment; and it was on these plains that God, via Moses, gave the Israelites one last "pep talk" and instructions for what they were to do upon entering the Promised Land (more discussion on the Promised Land in future posts--stay tuned!).  So much rich, interesting history to ponder while gazing at this landscape!

Plains of Moab: the flat, green area in the center of photo

People still camp out in the Plains to this day!

In the service, the message partially discussed the bronze snake of Numbers 21:4-9 as related to John 3:14-15.  Such a simple yet powerful and relevant story...To state it breifly: The Israelites behaved badly (sin), were punished (snake bites leading to death), repented, and were offered redemption (life!) if they looked in faith upon the bronze snake which Moses lifted up on a pole.  We, similarly, have behaved badly (sin), face punishment (death, both physical and spiritual), but if we repent are offered redemption (eternal life!) if we look in faith upon Jesus, who was lifted up on a tree when He died to pay the penalty for our sin.  To quote John: "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life."  Imagine if, way back then, someone was fatally bitten by a venomous snake, and had a chance to live, but needlessly died because they did not want to look at the exalted bronze serpent...How tragic!  Imagine if, today, we have a chance to live, but needlessly die because we do not want to look at the exalted Jesus...How tragic, indeed!

Jack, painting eggs

so pretty!

We had a fun egg hunt

The Easter basket I wove for Jack out of palm fronds

Happy Easter!