Along the Road

If you can’t actually go to Israel with Jack, this is the next best thing. He is a teacher extraordinaire and his love for the land, the lessons, and the people of Israel is incredible. The book helps readers start to build a mental map of where the events in the Bible take place and makes a great resource both for individual and for group studies, especially when used with the companion video which is beautifully produced. We’ll be using it in our congregation for certain!

I have studied the Bible for sixty years but have not read such concise concepts that correlate Jesus’ actions to Old Testament events. I recommend this book for every serious Bible student and teacher. Pastors who preach these biblical concepts will truly feed their flock. Dr. Beck’s books will awaken a love for the land of Israel in many people!

This book is small, but it is packed. It connects events in Jesus’ life with events that happened in the same geographic area in times past. Some are obvious, because they share the same name. Other connections made are not as obvious unless you have a deep knowledge of the land, as they are in close geographic proximity, but have different names. Once connections are made, Beck dives in and shows how these geographic associations reveal truths about Jesus. I had known some of these causally, but still learned so much as the meanings are often much deeper than a passing glance first reveals.

You can sort biblical events chronologically or topically. But the author shows how to read it another way: geographically with eyes open to spot geographical references that help us understand the significance of the text. I’ve walked with the author on a study trip to Israel and learned much in a new way that helped biblical narratives come alive for me.

Dr. Beck is on a crusade to enlighten the Bible reading world that one’s understanding of the Bible is incomplete without a grounding in the geography and culture of Jesus’ time. This book takes on the task of opening the reader up to where Jesus traveled, why he traveled and the underlying significance of why he performed the acts and delivered the messages specifically where he chose to do so. None were a matter of convenience. In addition, Dr. Beck provides great biblical exegesis in a conversational manner such that the common man immediately grasps his messages without having to consult a pastor or Bible scholar. He is indeed a gift to this generation of Bible learners.

It is great to study a book written by an author who knows his subject, and Dr. Beck is such a man. This is a wonderful resource.