October 15, 2007

James Heaton
October 15, 2007
Journal Entry

Well today started out as usual with classes. I had Arabic at 7:30am, followed by our Jewish narrative class, and then finally Old Testament. It was a good morning of studying and learning. After Old Testament, we had a great lunch and then it was back to studying.
I have really felt like the Lord is trying to teach me something through studying about the kings of Israel and Judah. Today Brother Ludlow spoke on several of the kings. Some of them were just really bad people. Some of them were really righteous people. And then there were some who I believe were decent kings but they lost their faith in the Lord and His ability to sustain and protect His people. I really feel that as I have read the Old Testament this semester the Lord has been trying to tell me to trust in Him. I love how He told one of the kings, Jehoshaphat, that “the battle is not yours, but God’s….Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you (2 Chronicles 20:15;17).” I feel like that can apply in our time too. I believe the Lord will fight out battles no matter what they may be. I used to think that life was all about toughing it out through out trials and enduring whatever comes our way – and I still think that sometimes we have to do that. But I think God wants us to trust in Him, have faith in Him, and ask Him to help us win our struggles and our battles. And as we do so, I believe He will show forth His hand in our lives and show us that He is there to protect and deliver His people and help us overcome all things. I really needed to learn that lesson this semester and I am grateful that the Lord is helping me learn that.
It seems like this week and next week are going to be lots of homework and studying. But as I was thinking about all that I have to do, I remembered something my dad told me before I left. He told me that the things I am learning now may not seem relevant now but they will have an influence on how I view this part of the world for the rest of my life. He told me to live in the moment and gain as much from this experience as I can. This afternoon our studies were interupted by a rescheduled Palestinian narrative class. Dr. Musalam has been gone, as he has not been able to obtain a work permit to cross into Jerusalem. Thus we were taught by Brother Huntington who did an amazing job of teaching us on the spot. That class has really changed my view of how I view the Palestinian people and their side of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I have really come to care for the Palestinian people – that’s such a change from how I first felt coming over here. Anyways, it was great way to end our day.