Day 05 - Galilee: Galilee Boat Ride, Ancient Boat (Ginosar), Beth Shean, Deganya Aleph, Yardinet Baptismal Site

Shabbat shalom! We had a wonderful devo on the shore of Galilee and then made our way to the boat! The weather was perfect, and we all enjoyed a peaceful cruise to the center of the Sea of Galilee. Our wonderful crew raised the American flag and played the Star Spangled Banner, followed by the Israeli National Anthem “Hatikvah” (The Hope).

Our crew showed us how fisherman would cast nets into the sea then shared with us a traditional dance that got us to start our day laughing. It was a wonderful time of group bonding and fun.

Next, we headed to the boat museum where we saw the remains of a 2000-year-old boat that had been in use for 80 years. Made of cedar, this boat was in service during the time of Jesus! If a boat like this was full of 13 men, the edge of the boat would only be 1.5ft above the surface of the water. While the water was peaceful for us, today, waves in the sea are regularly 3ft high and up to 6ft high in a storm. No wonder the disciples were afraid when the storm came!

On our way to Bet She’an, we stopped by the first kibbutz established in Israel, in 1910, Deganya Aleph. (A kibbutz is a communal settlement in Israel in which all wealth is held in common and profits are reinvested in the settlement, originally based on agriculture).

Many of our group chose to hike up the backside of Bet She’an. Likely the hardest trek of the trip, everyone did great and made it up quickly. Once at the top, Terry taught from 1 Samuel 31. The Philistines came and took down Saul and his sons. Saul fell on his sword so that they could not take and torture him. When they found him, they cut off his head and nailed him to the wall of Bet She’an. Saul’s lack of faith plays out in the events of the time, and the Israelites were overcome by their enemies. Even though this finally propelled the promise David received from God, he still lamented over Saul and Johnathan. Because he showed Saul mercy in life and in death, the story plays out in the way God intended. Now, we know it wasn’t David who turned the tide, but it was God.

We took approximately 4.3 million steps (possibly a slight exaggeration) down to the magnificent remains of the Greco-Roman City of Scythopolis (Bet She’an). The vastness and intricacies of this sight were truly something to marvel at. Roughly 80,000 people lived within the city, and the ruins are essentially frozen in time from an earthquake that happened in 749 AD. Terry took us to a multitude of places within the city and showed us how their geography mirrored their values. Unlike Chorazin, commerce was the center of this city. Material goods are of the highest value, just like in our culture today. The more we looked, the more similarities we found with the 21st century. Lest we be discouraged, we were reminded that the Church is more like Chorazin even though we live in a Scythopolis. Because we live in a culture that is counter to the values we hold dear, don’t expect to feel comfortable there. Don’t expect the culture to like you when you come from somewhere else!

The most remarkable part of our time in Scythopolis was when we sat on the steps of the theatre. Colton sang “It is Well” to show us the brilliance of the acoustics, and he blew us away with remarkable talent (and with how loud and clear we could hear him from so far away.) What a treat it was. Thank you, Colton!

Aside from being a brilliance of engineering, the theatre held about 10% of the city, and was where they told stories and communicated values. Much like our screens, it is so easy to be distracted by the stories the culture is telling you. Keep watch! Be careful what stories you’re digesting. There is a war for your soul, and we must guard it. BUT do not be discouraged that you live in a culture that doesn’t have your values. Our God is greater than our culture. He has overcome the world.

We ended the day at the Jordan River. Roughly three quarters of our group decided to get baptized. It was such a powerful experience, and a special one to get to enjoy together. It is a moment in time I will never forget.

Until Tomorrow…

Ashley Fuhr