Israel — God’s Heart: Landscapes and Legacy of Israel by Ron Gafni and Kathleen Barrett

About the book: (from the publisher) Many of us only dream of traveling to the Holy Land. Very few, like Israel’s top aerial photographer, Ron Gafni, soar above the craggy mountains ranges of Masada, the salty Dead Sea, and the iconic locations where Jesus walked. Israel – God’s Heart: Landscapes and Legacy beautifully captures the ancient landscapes of this great nation, as well as presents the legacy of God’s redemption plan for the world.

As you slowly turn the pages, you will find unexpected vantage points, such as the Tower of David surrounded by city lights and fast-paced cars and a hot air balloon floating over a field of cotton. From a bird’s-eye view, you will also experience a vibrant, bustling, modern Israel. Biblical references and thoughtful narrative by author Kathleen Barrett intertwines with awe-inspiring photography to bring you to the Holy Land time and time again.

Flip through a digital sample here or click on the image below:

About the authors: Israel’s top aerial photographer, Ron Gafni, brings his vast experience and personal perspective through the lens of a proud Israeli citizen. His work has been featured in National Geographic, and his company, skypics.co.il, provides books from its “Israel From Above” collection to the Israeli Government, Army, and Air Force, as well as to large corporations in Israel.

Co-author Kathleen Barrett, a Florida resident and former pre-school teacher, shares her thoughtful point of view in Israel – God’s Heart from a personal, 40-year walk of Christian faith and study. She has also authored a children’s devotional and numerous articles on a variety of topics from missions outreach to political events. Her more personal and reflective work has been featured in a number of collections.

Genre: Non-fiction/Travel

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My take: I gravitate toward resources that add to my understanding of Scripture. I especially appreciate those that help me to visualize the geographical setting of events. Someday, I hope to see these places for myself, but until then, I must content myself with books and videos that bring them to me. That’s what I was looking for in this book: a way to contextualize familiar Bible stories. I was also intrigued by the idea of historical events shown in modern context.

I liked the way these photos capture the exotic, arid beauty of this tiny, multi-storied nation. But while the images are captivating —  indeed, many are especially intriguing — I failed to grasp the author’s vision for this work. The structuring seemed disjointed, the text often irrelevant to the imagery. It lacked flow from one idea to the next, and I I could not see how each page’s presentation came together as a cohesive whole.

As such, it was a pretty and interesting collection of photos. While it certainly didn’t diminish my interest in the Holy Land, neither did it increase my understanding of how Israel’s landscapes and legacy come together to illustrate God’s heart.

Thanks to Litfuse Publicity and for providing me this book free of charge. All opinions are mine.

After words: Have you traveled to Israel?