Day 08 - Jezreel Valley: Nazareth, Megiddo, Mt. Carmel, Caesarea Maritima

When we first arrived in Israel, our tour guide Ronen told us that we would be going to Jerusalem—but not yet, because we were not ready. This morning when we hopped on the bus, Ronen told us we were going to Jerusalem and we all cheered. Hooray, we’re finally ready! So, we waved goodbye to Galilee and began our journey to Jerusalem. 

Our first stop on this Journey was the town of Nazareth. Jumping off the bus, we followed Jared to a cliff-face that overlooks the Jezreel Valley and there we opened up our Bibles to Luke 4:16-30. In this passage, Jesus has come back to Nazareth, reads Isaiah 61 to the people in the synagogue, and shares with them that this Scripture has been fulfilled right then.  Yet, the people did not want Jesus Himself, they wanted the things He could do. They had heard of the great miracles He had been performing and wanted Him to do the same there, and in this, they missed Who was right in front of them. We cannot have the works of Christ, without Christ—and I pray that we will always seek first Jesus, above all else. 

At our next stop, we found ourselves at Tel Megiddo, where we discussed King Josiah, from 2 Chronicles 35.  Josiah brought “revival” to the people and began to break down the idolatry that King Jeraboam had brought to the kingdoms of Israel.  Because of this, many believed that Josiah might be “the one” coming from Genesis 3:15, but alas, Josiah was killed in battle at Megiddo. The people had been hopeful that Josiah would be the one who would save them—but there is a greater Josiah who is coming.  As Zechariah 12:10-14 discusses, there is One coming who will be able to cleanse people of their uncleanness and their sin—and this is Jesus! Throughout our time here in Israel, we are often looking back to what happened in the Scriptures, but here at Meggido we were able to look forward to the future and the hope we are able to have because of Christ. Praise God!

Next, we found ourselves in the area of Mt. Carmel, where Dexter walked us through 1 Kings 18. In this story, the prophet Elijah goes up against 850 prophets of Baal, alone.  I don’t know about you, but I can’t even imagine doing this, let alone by myself, but this is exactly what Elijah did.  He walked faithfully in obedience to what God was calling him to do, because he was completely confident in who God is and what He could do.  Elijah wanted every person at Mt. Carmel that day to know that it is Yahweh who is sovereign and did all of these works. And what an encouragement it is for us! We can walk faithfully in obedience wherever the Lord is calling us, because we know Who is going with us. 

Nearing Jerusalem, we stopped at Caesarea Maritima.  Here Herod the Great built the largest harbor of the first century, where there was trade, theatre, gladiator games, among many other Greco-Roman activities.  And as we learned from the book of Acts, it is also here where Philip the evangelist, Peter, and Paul came to share the Gospel.  Specifically concerning Paul, in Acts 26, he goes before King Agrippa the 2nd who is wanting to hear is defense. Though in this moment, Paul shares the Gospel with him!  What devotion and love for Christ that we are able to see in Paul.  Paul knew that God had brought him here to Caesarea Maritima and had given him the Message to share, and Paul was obedient in that.  As believers we know that God has given us a Message and brought us where we need to be, now who is it He has appointed us to speak to? 

Praise God that our Savior is faithful and trustworthy and that He goes with us every step of the way! 

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Kristen Ray