Israel In Depth - Rocky Peak

April 26 - May 7, 2015

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Your Perfect Grace Has Brought Me To This Place

“Your Perfect Grace Has Brought Me To This Place"

These words come from one of the songs we sang as we looked out on the beach over the Sea of Galilee this morning. Our day started very early with a wake-up call at 5 am. We needed to head out of town early to beat a bicycle race on the street in front of our kibbutz (the beach where we are staying) overlooking the Sea, which, by the way, is the largest fresh water lake in Israel. The problem was we didn't leave early enough and the street got blocked off from our bus. I am not one to like to change plans, but find that plan B can be better than our original plan in the first place. So is the case with today.

As a group, we got to sing and worship on the very shore of the place Jesus did most of his ministry over looking Tiberias. It was a powerful moment of praise, prayer, connection and reflection of why we came to Israel.

We got to have some free time before we headed out for a full day of hiking and exploring. Our first stop was Tel Dan where we saw ruins of a place written about in Judges 18. The people compromised and did not follow God's instructions. They did not fight until the end or listen to wise counsel. Mike asked the question, "Who do you go to for wise counsel?" Oftentimes we ask the wrong people for advice.

Tel Dan

On the northern frontier of the kingdom, Dan was particularly well fortified. This gatehouse was built in the ninth century BCE, probably by Ahab, and is part of a series of gateways discovered.

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We then hiked through Caesarea Philippi exploring an amazing waterfall and natural spring. It was quite a contrast from the last four days of being in the desert. We visited a pagan sanctuary where it is thought the god of pan was worshipped among other idols and perverted practices.

Caesarea Philippi

This abundant water supply has made the area very fertile and attractive for religious worship. Numerous temples were built at this city in the Hellenistic and Roman periods.

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From there we traveled through the Golan Heights, visited a bunker near the Syrian border and ended our lovely evening with a "Shabbat Shalom" dinner with our tour guide, Ronen and his family. He treated us like we were a part of his own family with Jesus fish, singing and lots of laughter. It was a full day, but words can't really describe the experience. It is similar to a photograph of a place you have been that does not capture the experience.

Jodi Elliott

Golan Heights

The Golan Heights belonged to the country of Syria until 1967. During the Six Day War, Israel took this high ground overlooking the Huleh Basin and Sea of Galilee. Today evidence of Syrian habitation, including military bases and mosques lie in ruins throughout the area. The region is now populated by Druze (who there before the war) and Israelis who have moved in since the war. Syria insists on the return of the Golan Heights as part of any peace agreement.

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