Location, Location, Location

This morning we bid a fond farewell to the Sea of Galilee. How powerful it was to walk the land where Jesus walked, and to cruise on (and swim in) the waters on which He sailed and walked. If I looked in the right direction, it was possible to look across the waters and imagine that Jesus might have looked out on the same view.

Throughout our journey, we have been reminded about the importance of location, both in the ancient world and in the Old and New Testaments. The best location for a city was often on a hill, so it could be defended, near a water and food source, and along a trade route. A great location is often near an intersection of major roads. Israel may have been the perfect location for God to call forth his followers and to send forth His son Jesus, as Israel was at the crossroads of Asia, Europe and Africa.

As we travelled today along Israel’s major east-west road, from the eastern shores of the Sea of Galilee west to the Mediterranean Sea, we visited several sites whose location was of paramount importance. The Valley of Jezreel (in Hebrew, “God Plants His Seeds”) where we spent most of the day is the fertile “breadbasket” of Israel because of its favorable location, and is the crossroads of many cross-country routes. Many significant battles took place there or nearby, whether Old Testament tales of Joshua, David, and Solomon, or more modern wars. Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth was on a major crossroads of east-west and north-south routes, but “can anything good come from there?”

On a high hill overlooking Nazareth, Pastor Mike discussed the importance of following Jesus and the Word, rather than being stuck in tradition and our old mindsets. When Jesus said in the Nazareth synagogue that He was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, the people were angry at His suggestion that they didn’t “get it.” Could the hill we’re sitting on be the one they tried to toss Him off of?

Meggido was one of Solomon’s and Ahab’s major strongholds, and a location that controlled the road to the sea. It is likely that “Har Meggido” is “Armageddon,” the site of the epic battle predicted in Revelation. This World Heritage site contains extensive ruins of palaces and stables, as well as an underground cistern and tunnel to access and protect the water supply (climbing down and then up the steps worked up a nice appetite for our traditional Druze lunch). Mike used Solomon’s tragic story, of a leader who first sought wisdom but then pursued power, wealth, and pleasure, as a cautionary tale of the “dimmer switch” principle – as we head down the path of disobedience, our light begins to dim.

Mt. Carmel was the site of an epic Old Testament battle in I Kings, where God empowered Elijah’s forces to overcome the prophets of Baal. Elijah urged the people not to waver between the two gods, and Mike reminded us of Jesus’ warning that we cannot serve two masters.

Herod the Great needed a seaport location, so he built the city of Caesarea on the Mediterranean coast. In Jesus’ time, Caesarea was the largest city in Israel, and a center of culture, business, and sports. Located one day’s walk from Nazareth, it is likely that Jesus either came here or was known here. We do know that the first Gentiles to receive the Gospel (from Peter) were from Caesarea (Acts 10), and that Paul was imprisoned here for three years (Acts 23, 24). Speaking of location, Caesarea was an important intersection of the Old and New Testaments, and an intersection of the Gospel into Gentile culture. After admiring the ancient amphitheater, we had another “wow” moment when we saw the vast ruins below, including a man-made harbor, Herod’s palace (complete with freshwater swimming pool), and hippodrome (for chariot races and gladiator battles).

Reflecting on this full day, Mike’s teachings, and the importance of location, I considered the importance of God’s “location” in my life and heart. Do I give Him the prime location, at the intersection of every aspect of my life? Is there something else blocking my “view” of Him? Am I wavering between multiple gods, standing in the middle of the road rather than staying in His lane?
On to Jerusalem…
Steve Gerse