Foundational Questions

Why Israel - why that particular land?  Why the Jews?
God trusted His people to be guardians of the LAW and the Covenant.  Within the Law were Feasts which were to be celebrated year after year.  (The Feasts are forever linked to the Land through the unique weather patterns and its sowing, growing, and reaping cycles.)

The Land was a land bridge. The Great Trunk Road (Via Maris) ran the length of the coast and connected the great regions of the known world.  It was here that a few people could have power and influence over many peoples.  If the Israelites obeyed God  here – the multitudes would also see proof of the One True God.

Who was / is Jesus (Yeshua)?
He was / is the Jewish Messiah!  To really know Him and how He related to those around Him... we need to be familiar His Jewish heritage, background, environment, ancient Jewish mindset, and His frame-of-reference.  

We have embraced a more gentilized Christianity:
As modern-day Christians, we have lost much of the richness of the Scripture's Jewish Roots (it happened before 200 AD).   We now have blurred our faith with many traditions and thoughts built on the Greek-Roman-pagan ideas and practices.  After 200 AD Christians also became "Greek Thinkers" (Hellenized – with abstract thinking and ideas etc.). 

It is now time that we reclaim our ancient Hebrew thinking patterns (picture-thinking and relating with everyday experiences and environment).  Hebrew Thinking is very visual and environmental –  much as a child learns.  Using this tool, Scripture takes on so much more depth with discernment.

The Promised Land with her gods:
It is imperative to understand the pagan religious system in the Land and surrounding cultures prior to the time when the Children of Israel came into the Land.  With that foundation, we continue the pagan god trail through the Babylonian exile – and then up through the 1st Century CE (AD).  (Baal and Asherah were the primary fertility god & goddess when the Children of Israel came into the Land.)

Our Christian Culture:
We mistakenly approach the Scriptures from our own present environment and experiences.  It is imperative that when we study or ponder Scripture, we return to that Ancient Jewish frame-of-reference – within the Geography of the Land, Ancient Jewish / Middle Eastern Cultures, and Jewish / Ancient Middle Eastern History.