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Israel Study Tour with Legacy Milestones
May 28 - June 8, 2016
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Intro to Hellenism
After a welcomed Sabbath rest we ventured into another day in the area around the Galilee. Our time spent here has definitely challenged our thoughts of what it means to follow Jesus.
We began our day on Mount Gilboa. It was a beautiful morning spent reflecting on the life of Saul and the life of David. It is interesting to think on the differences in the lives of the two kings. One stepped into sin and tried to hide, from man and from God while the other sinned and repented and found restoration with God. We too can repent and find the same restoration.
Jezreel Valley
The spacious Jezreel Valley spreads out to the north and east from Mount Carmel, providing convenient passage for international travelers in ancient times. The fertile alluvial soil makes this the country’s breadbasket as well. The Bible speaks of the gathering of armies in this valley at the place of Armageddon.
We then journeyed down the mountain to Ein Harod, which is a spring in the valley below Mount Gilboa. This is the location from which God called Gideon. He is one who felt ill equipped and incapable to do what God had called him to do and yet, through the strength of God, accomplished what God said. It caused us to think about our lives and whether or not we are living lives that are spent doing things that we are forced to trust God on.
After time in the mountains we went to Beth She’an. Here we received a very accurate picture of what Hellenism brought to the east. We all marveled at the Roman ruins but were convicted by the similarities between the Romans and 21st century America. The question that we were asked was, what do the Romans (or non-believing Americans) need that Christians have? We struggled to figure out the answer.
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.
After lunch and a quick dip in the Sea of Galilee we journeyed to Susita/Hippos where we would discover what we had that those who don’t believe need, our story. We all have a story to tell of the transformation of Christ. See Mk. 5:1-20 and Mk. 8:1-3 to see the transformation that telling your story can bring.
Tomorrow we will see what the Lord has for us as we walk the path. Please continue to pray as we soak in the pictures and the scriptures.
—Kade Pierce
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