Warm and Fuzzy? Maybe.

Recently I had the opportunity to visit Bethsaida; according to tradition the home of Peter, Andrew and Philip, Zebedee and his sons.  It is part of the ongoing archeological studies in Israel and an official national park site, so it is an interesting presentation both historically and spiritually.

The display includes (surprise) a spectacular vista, a home and synagogue and all kinds of interesting, valuable historic information but after a day of history and boulders and spiritual connections, what got my attention?

You got it, the local wildlife.  The Rock Hyrax.  Who can resist fuzzy little creatures?  Not me apparently.  And if I must relate it spiritually, I'm sure you will all remember that they are mentioned in scripture three times. 

 

Leviticus 11:5 (NIV) “The hyrax, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you.”

Deuteronomy 14:7 (NIV) “However, of those that chew the cud or that have a divided hoof you may not eat the camel, the rabbit or the hyrax. Although they chew the cud, they do not have a divided hoof; they are ceremonially unclean for you.

And famously:

Proverbs 30:26 (NIV) “Hyraxes are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags.”

Sadly, “...around Galilee the animals are no longer behaving in a "biblical way" - making their homes in the rocky hills and cliffs of the countryside.  "They're coming into the villages and eating everything they can find.”  Arik Kershenbaum, Haifa University Research team .http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/ )

Like cats, who I don’t remember seeing mentioned in the Bible, the Hyrax seems to be becoming a nuisance, but they are local indigenous residents, were cute and mostly posed for us, until we got too close, so I decided they needed a mention. 

A vista!

And a lizard.