God invades it all

Today we visited the region of Northern Galilee, specifically Hazor, Dan (Laish), Caesarea Philippi, and Bethsaida. I’ll primarily recap Hazor and Dan. Northern Galilee is gorgeous country. At this time of the year it is lush green pasture covering rolling Appalachian sized hills, bounded by snow covered peaks. Think Braveheart with green deforested Pennsylvania mountains. The Jordan river (about 15 yards wide, much water is contained on the snowy peaks this time of year) flows down the middle of the valley, and is often bounded by orchards. The weather was chilly, somewhere in the 30’s with mixed sun and rain. For most of the day the Sea (lake) of Galilee remained in view. In general, today was chilly, but gorgeous.

Hazor was the first place we visited. Hazor is hugely important, historically and internationally due to its location. It is located at a northern topographic choke point collecting travelers to/from Lebanon (due north) and Damascus (northeast). It is rich with history. Perhaps one of the most interesting pieces is that it has a temple or palace that was destroyed. And archeological evidence surrounding its destruction potentially converges nicely with biblical accounts of its destruction by Israel during the conquest of Canaan.

Dan is located at the northernmost tip of Israel, and is also located at a topographic chokepoint. Additionally Dan has everflowing natural springs (living water). It is literally a jungle in the midst of pasture/desert. Furthermore, it is the site where our beloved Dr. Greer has done much of his archeological work. At Dan is located the oldest preserved mud brick arches, dating to 1800BC. This means that Abraham may have walked through it at some point. The highlight of Dan however is its excavated temple, the temple with a golden calf erected by Jeroboam after Israel split into two kingdoms. The temple there is an almost perfect replica of Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem (far to the south). The archeological evidence seems to say that this was a temple for YHWH worship, and it also shows that they were performing the temple rituals very well according to the Leviticus commands. In other words, they were doing religion perfectly. Yet reading Amos 5:21, God was not a happy camper. Their religious rituals may have been spot on (except the golden calf which relegated YHWH to a lesser deity), but their hearts were far from God. Perfect religion, corrupt hearts. That’ll preach for us Christians today who may have beautiful churches filled with self-righteous jerks.

As stated above, we spent our day exploring Galilee. Galilee! The place where Jesus did most of his ministering, where he called his disciples, calmed the storm, cast out demons, healed sick, gave sight to the blind. He walked up and down these same shores, felt the burn in his legs up these same hills, stumbled over these same rocks, fished these same waters... The God of the universe became man here! How crazy is that! In some sense, this is totally overwhelming. Yet in another it is also underwhelming.

This trip is enormously helpful for understanding the Scriptures more fully as God intended them, yet in some sense Galilee is just a lake in a valley with people just like everyone else. I could blindfold you and put you here, and you could think you were at any lake in any mountain range. This trip is worth every penny, no doubt, however this is just land. This land is not mystical. This water is not supernatural. It’s just valleys. It’s just hills. It’s just people and cows, pasture and orchards, and historically rich piles of rocks. It’s wonderful to come here to discover the scriptures, but for loved ones at home who could not come, this is just one very small section of land in one very large planet in one very large universe, and God cares about it all, and God invades it all! God is living and active in it all. God cares about all peoples. God invades every culture in every nation.

So while y’all miss us and we miss y’all (especially Nicole and my little monster Joe), do not feel left out. Enjoy God where you are. Enjoy his invasion of your land, your city, your home, your family. Enjoy him in all that he has done and is doing. He is the living God of the ancient and the present. And his kingdom extends through all creation. Join him and enjoy him in manifesting that kingdom, in making his kingdom flesh wherever he has seen fit for you to trod his creation.

Ben B. (M.Div. Student at GRTS)