Kathie Lee Gifford: ‘The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi’

Most of us know Kathie Lee Gifford as an Emmy-winning talk show host with a warm personality and friendly smile. Some know her as wife of NFL great Frank Gifford. I wonder how many see her as a woman of God, constantly striving to know her Savior at a deeper level. That is the foundation of her book, the Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi.

The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi pursues Gifford’s life long desire to understand the Word of God and what it says based on its original meanings in its original context. She uses three distinct categories.

• The Rock (Jesus Christ): Hear directly from Kathie about her life-changing and ever-deepening connection with Jesus, the Lover of her soul.
• The Road (Israel): Explore dozens of ancient landmarks and historical sites from Israel, the Promised Land of God’s covenant.
• The Rabbi (God’s Word): Go beyond a “Sunday school” approach to the Bible by digging into the original languages and deeper meanings of the Holy Scriptures.

In her book, Kathie Lee takes us along on her quest to know the Messiah more intimately. This is much more than an arm chair travel journal that describes the locations of a comprehensive tour of the Holy Land. As she recounts the many stops following the path of the Messiah, Gifford shares from her own personal study and experience, providing fresh insights along the way.

What Surprised Me

There were many pleasant surprises for me while reading Gifford’s book. First, was the inclusion of Ray Vander Laan, someone I knew from my days with the Reformed Church in America. I had sat in his workshops and could just imagine the depth of teaching provided on this tour.

Another surprise came with Kathie Lee’s description of her husband Frank’s response to the tour. She made it clear from the beginning that Frank Gifford was not too excited to be participating. He was only going along for her. However, his attitude changed as they moved from site to site. As Kathie Lee puts it, the experience took him from religion to relationship. I found this somewhat timely knowing that less than three years later, Frank would meet the Messiah in person.

Gifford is an engaging storyteller and does an exceptional job weaving Scripture into the story – maybe because Scripture is the story, or at least the basis for the story. She also allows for the reader to see her personal interpretation of the story. You can tell from her writing that she has invested much time in the study of God’s Word.

While I greatly enjoyed reading Kathie Lee’s description of the Holy Land and her personal insights on Scripture, for me the highlight of this book was the commentary provided by Rabbi Jason Sobel, a Messianic Jew, and co-founder of Fusion. Rabbi Jason, as he is known, provided a deeper look into the sites and the Scripture associated with each. It was as if I were receiving a history lesson at each location. I loved it. And I missed it in the chapters where it was omitted.

Should I Read This Book?

Here’s my answer:

• If you are looking for a book to inspire you and lift your spirits while taking you on a personal tour of the Holy Land, then this is the book for you.
• If you are looking for a book that will take you deeper into the Word of God as it pertains to the land where Jesus walked, then you should read this book.
• If you are interested in learning more about the history and the background of the Holy Land from someone who understands the culture and practices of the Jewish fathers, then reading this book will satisfy that desire, as well.

If you have longed to walk in the steps of Jesus on the streets and trails He trod, then come along with Kathie Lee Gifford in the Rock, the Road and the Rabbi. You will enjoy the journey.

…

You can order your copy of the Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi wherever books are sold.

More from Kathie Lee Gifford at her website, kathieleegifford.com.

More from Rabbi Jason Sobel and his organization, Fusion, visit fusionglobal.org.