I am always amazed at how many lovely flowers there are in Israel. Really I think of the Land as being desert and dry, but it does produce some of the prettiest flowers and foliage with a little watering and tender care, they flourishes here. Just a walk around the city yields a view of so many petals and so much stone. The Ancient City is built with white, lime stone quarried locally. It is a law that all the building must at least have a facade of the famous Jerusalem stone. It is beautiful in all light during the day, but especially pretty as the sun goes down, giving it a rosy or golden glow.

In spite of the fact that the geography of Israel is not compatible to agriculture, it is highly developed here! More than half the land is desert, but today agriculture thrives.

Israel exports a vast amount of flowers. In recent years, export revenue exceeded $50 million. Roses flourish here and are the second most popular export, exceeded by the Chamelaucium or wax flower. Israel has become a serious contender in the competitive global floral industry and has for years been one of the main suppliers to Europe during winter months.

I love the contrast of soft and hard — in this case in the MIddle East, petals and stones. Both point to the Messiah and God’s word. The prophets of old predicted that the desert would blossom like a rose!

“The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose” (Isaiah 35:1).

Both Old and New Covenants tell us that if we keep quiet, the stones of Israel will cry out. And I believe they do — they are silently crying out and pointing the Yeshua, Israelis Messiah and Redeemer of the nations.

He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!” (Luke 19:40).