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Israel Study Tour with Grace Bible Church Ann Arbor
February 7-17, 2020
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Whose God is God?
We have been drinking from the proverbial firehose this week. The history, culture and faith stories found in this land have expanded our minds and hearts.
We packed up and headed to Biblical city of Beth She’an (mentioned in 1 Samuel 31) which later became the ancient Roman city of Scythopolis. This Tel is the location where the Philistines displayed the slain bodies of King Saul and his sons. Such a disturbing story that resulted in disgrace for the Israelites until it was later recaptured by King David.
As we stepped into ruins of Scythopolis, we explored the theater, main street with shops, and the largest bathhouse in the world (even today)! We were amazed by the details that archeologist continue to uncover at this site. Ask any of the team members about the elaborate plumbing that was used in this 2nd century site.
Beth Shean
Located 17 miles (27 km) south of the Sea of Galilee, Beth Shean is situated at the strategic junction of the Harod and Jordan Valleys. The fertility of the land and the abundance of water led the Jewish sages to say, “If the Garden of Eden is in the land of Israel, then its gate is Beth Shean.” It is no surprise then that the site has been almost continuously settled from the Chalcolithic period to the present.
Next, we traveled to the top of a very windy Mt Carmel. As the wind blew harder and the temperature dropped on top of this high mountain, Adam brought the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal to life for us (1 Kings 18: 1-40). God used this one man to show His power to the world to prove He was the true God. God is calling us to be bold like Elijah and show the world whose God is real.
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).
We continued west to the Mediterranean Sea and landed at Caesarea Maritima. Herod the Great had built a planned community which centered around the largest harbor at that time. Here we read two accounts about Peter and the centurion, Cornelius, and Paul’s defense before Agrippa found in Acts 10. What an amazing thought to know that we were standing in the place where the gospel was first preached to the Gentiles, and we continue to receive it today!
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.
Touring Scythopolis and Caesarea Maritima, we were struck by how the once impressive and beautiful works of the world now lie in ruins, while the Good News is living and growing still. We know the true God.
We are now in Jerusalem and experiencing Shabbat. We are grateful for the safe travels and good spirit of community and flexibility God has given us on this trip.
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