Help support our friends in Israel in their time of need.
Israel In Depth - Dr. Lewis
January 3-16, 2015
Subscription options are no longer available for this tour.
Persevering Through the Storm
Day 6 brought an unusually cold storm to Israel that brought the biggest detour we've taken yet. Rather than drive directly north from the Dead Sea up to the Sea of Galilee where our new hotel resides, we made our way back to the Mediterranean coast before heading north to Caesarea and Mt. Carmel, skirting the storm as much as possible. After witnessing a Roman theatre and Hippodrome at Caesarea and savoring the breathtaking view from the Carmel peak where Elijah likely called down fire from Heaven, we headed back east toward our hotel on the Sea of Galilee, Ein Gev Kibbutz.
The road we had planned to take north from the Dead Sea unfortunately fell victim to the flash floods that happen every so often in that region when snow on the nearby mountains melts and comes cascading down into the valleys below. Jerusalem also received its fair share of snow, causing the city schools to close for the day.
We steered as far away from the icy weather as possible, but could not completely outrun the cold wind and rain. In spite of the conditions, we were able to see the Dead Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Sea of Galilee and one of the most prominent mountain peaks all in the same day! It helps that in terms of land area, the entire country of Israel is smaller than the size of the Houston metroplex.
Somewhat like Masada, Caesarea offered another invaluable glimpse into the Roman-Greco culture that so infiltrated the minds and hearts of the people in Jesus' day. With free performances at the theatre, chariot races at the Hippodrome, bustling commerce, job opportunities, and a plethora of pagan worship choices, it is not difficult to imagine how Caesarea drew the hearts of the people at the time like Hollywood, professional sports and money tantalize so many American hearts today. The ruins of a city that so mirrors a typical American city of the 21st century almost scream warnings for 21st century western Christians. If Caesarea did not survive the onslaught of physical and metaphorical storms, what makes us think civilizations, cities and individuals of today that worship the same things as Caesarea will meet a different fate?
Caesarea Maritima
The city and harbor were built under Herod the Great during c. 22–10 BC near the site of a former Phoenician naval station known as Stratonos pyrgos (Στράτωνος πύργος).[2] It later became the provincial capital of Roman Judea, Roman Syria Palaestina and Byzantine Palaestina Prima provinces. The city was populated throughout the 1st to 6th centuries CE and became an important early center of Christianity during the Byzantine period, but was mostly abandoned following the Muslim conquest of 640. It was re-fortified by the Crusaders, and finally slighted by the Mamluks in 1265.
Lastly, we ascended Mt. Carmel, and gazed across the Jezreel Valley, the biggest crossroads in ancient Israel and thus, the biggest crossroads of the ancient world. Elijah's confidence in God to come through with fire to burn up the altar never ceases to amaze me. Despite the famine in the land at the time, he had water poured on the altar not once, not twice, but three times! Moreover, standing very near a spot where heavenly fire once literally touched earth is a "Wow" moment to say the least. As we read the Biblical text atop the peak, God's providence shone through brilliantly. In choosing Elijah for the job, God used a man whose name means "God is Yahweh" to cause the people who witnessed the event to say, "Yahweh is God."
Mt. Carmel
Biblically, Mt. Carmel is referenced most often as a symbol of beauty and fertility. To be given the “splendor of Carmel” was to be blessed indeed (Isa 35:2). Solomon praised his beloved: “your head crowns you like Mount Carmel” (Song 7:5). But for Carmel to wither was a sign of devastating judgment (Nahum 1:4).
"I'm so impressed with the spirit of perseverance our diverse group has displayed in the face of difficult weather the past three days. There is such a yearning to see, touch, feel and experience each site on our tour despite the cold, wind and rain. We walked the wind-blown Roman ramp down Masada yesterday and withstood the battering rain and crashing waves as we stood on the site of Herod's Caesarean theater and palace today. Each of us soaking in the spiritual experience and God's direction for how to persevere in our own lives."
Ed Larsen - Tour participant
Upcoming Signature Tours
With 30 years of experience creating trips for other ministries, we've prepared our own signature study tours featuring some of our favorite itineraries and compelling teachers! If you've never been on a GTI Study Tour, take a moment to learn more about what you can expect.