They said it shouldn’t be done. Some even said it couldn’t be done. That only made us want to do it more.
So one morning, my brother Sam and I woke up at 4:45 a.m., stuffed our packs with water bottles and food, and ventured into the desert.
Our goal was to trek an estimated 14 miles through the Judean Wilderness until we reached the Dead Sea. We were equipped with maps, directions, a cell phone, and survival advice in case we got lost. Our guide also nonchalantly warned us about terrorists. I’m 72% sure he was joking.
For the first four hours, we stuck close to the trail markers, only slightly wandering off to explore some cool-looking caves or to navigate around a large yet seemingly deserted Bedouin village that we hoped was not hostile. I had my doubts when we came upon a poor mule whose front legs had been tied together. We discussed setting it free but quickly realized that might not go over 
well with the locals. But anyway, it turned out to be a friendly village, judging by the way a few children waved at us, and no shots were fired in our direction.
well with the locals. But anyway, it turned out to be a friendly village, judging by the way a few children waved at us, and no shots were fired in our direction. Then we came upon “the cave.” It was far off the trail and high in the side of a mountain. But from where we stood, it looked like the mother of all desert caves … which meant we had to be there.
Photo by Samuel Mongonia
Two-and-a-half hours later, we left the cave (turned out to be kind of a letdown) and hiked to the top of that mountain, which was easily one of the tallest in the desert. Being the optimists we are, we expected to see the sparkling blue water of the Dead Sea on the other side of the peak. The view wasn’t exactly what we had anticipated. Oh we could see the Dead Sea alright, but the several miles of desert in front of it turned us off a little bit.
We contemplated whether to continue the journey or head back. I was tired, sweaty, sun-burned, and sore, but the thought of stepping onto that beach, pealing off my shirt and gear, and making a bee-line for the brisk water was too tempting. 
Then we noticed two military helicopters flying toward us from the Dead Sea … and we continued to contemplate. One flew directly over us and hovered over our mountain for a few minutes … and we continued to contemplate. Then we noticed two more helicopters flying low in between the nearby valleys … and we continued to contemplate. Then we watched the first two helicopters float side-by-side over the Dead Sea, staring directly at Jordan … and we continued to contemplate. Then we heard a far-off, booming sound that we both swore could have been an explosion … and we decided to head home.
Without the motivation of a cool dip in the Dead Sea, we wearily trudged back into the Judean Wilderness … perhaps through the same area Jesus ventured into during his 40-day fast and temptation. Thank God the fate of humanity did not rest in my hands on this day because by our eighth hour in the desert, I can’t guarantee what would have happened if the devil had tempted me with a strawberry lemonade Slurpee. If he would have told me I could turn a rock into a Chipwich, it would have been all over.
But thankfully, Jesus was a stronger man than I am. The devil attacked him at his weakest point – after 40 days of fasting and wandering through the desolate wilderness – and Jesus withstood it. It was on that day that Jesus told Satan we were more important than his own human needs and desires. Imagine how scared the devil must have been when his intended target turned down unlimited food, invincibility, and world domination … in order to save the very people who were going to crucify Him.
We can’t escape temptation. If the devil could find a way to tempt Jesus in the middle of the wilderness, he can easily find ways to tempt us daily. But temptation isn’t a sin. The Bible clearly states Jesus was tempted (or at least the NIV does). The true character of a person is never more clearer than when they face temptation alone … where no one else will ever know what happened. Jesus handled it like a champ. How are we handling it?
Me at The Dead Sea … on a different day
