Day 06 - Galilee - Jerusalem: Beth Shean, Jezreel Valley, Megiddo, Mt. Carmel, Caesarea Maritima

Last morning in Galilee….windy and cool… Breakfast has become a special time of fellowship, sharing what God is revealing to each of us!

Worship included Marylou sharing “Fisher of Men”(pescador de hombre) then we sang "Oceans", so appropriate as we leave Galilee and head to the coast…

Kari led devotion and reminded us that Jesus came to seashore and called people and he still does.

1 Kings 19:3-4 Elijah was afraid, trying to operate on his own power, just as we often do.

Elijah calls us, just as Jesus does, to ask ourselves who we follow...

Remember we do not have to have it all together to come before God; God uses broken people. Be reminded that God calls us everyday.

Jesus is our Messiah forever.

He is with us always.

As we boarded the bus we were informed of a the earthquake this morning around 0500, epicenter was Turkey…as the  day moved on we continued to hear of the devastation. We are on the Syrian and African rift (rift valley).

The largest earthquake was in 1749, many cities destroyed, Katzrin and Capernaum... then a war... they were not rebuilt so they were buried.

We headed onto Bet She’an another city lost in earthquake of 1749. It was not rediscovered until 1949.

After Bet She’an it was conquered by the Romans and became Schythopolis (Roman city)part of the Decapolis.

A total 19 civilizations have been discovered in this Tel.

As we looked over the Tel of old and the ancient city ruins Ronen taught 2 stories.

The first from 1 Samuel 31. The Philistines were attacking Saul, which shows they had pushed far north into Israel. Always important to know the geography to fully understand the story.

Saul kills himself in the mountains above Beth She’an, after the defeat, again contrasting his leadership from David. This was the end of an era. David had to start from scratch, reconquer the land and bring the people back to the Lord.

The city fell in 720 BC to Assyrians and then Babylonians.

Fast forward to the second story and 63 BC. The Romans conquered and built Schythopolis part of the Roman Decapolis.

Modern city of Greek influence, different mind set from Jewish culture.

A clash between civilizations!

We walked the ancient gymnasiums, bath houses and the Main Street of shopping then onto the Theatre. We discuss how closely our modern world is reflected in this ancient cities….

We are often consumed with the world, although we can enjoy it we must keep the Lord as our first love….

1 John 2:15-Do not make the world your god.

This time was full of wonder, laughter and reflection in the group.

A big storm hit today, called Barbara..so the rain and wind continued…

We traveled through the Valley of Jezreel ("God plants seeds"). This is the grain basket of Israel!

1 Kings 21-King Ahab sought the vineyard of Anboth in this valley.

Many battles were fought here.

First the Hittites vs Egyptian 3900 years ago. Egypt won…and changed the world.

Last war here inn 1967 6 Day War.

This Valley where Nazareth located.

As we arrived at Tel Megiddo the storm really hit, we again had to be FAT (flexible, adaptable and teachable). The Tel has over discovered 30 civilizations. The two most significant in size were Ahab and Solomon.

This is considered the most important place in Israel.

Many city gates were found but the Solomonic gates were found through out the region: Gezer, Megiddo and Hazor.

These cities had 3 common components: the similar gates, sophisticated water projects and stables which were reflective of the military.

This area has further biblical mention from Revelation: battle of end days, Har Megiddo… Armageddon.

We reviewed the story of Solomon and how he was not the king he should’ve been, although powerful he built shrines, had lots of gold and wives.

The important message is that it how we finish that’s important, that the “things” of the world are not what makes us great.

Due to the down pour of rain we ate lunch on the bus - we had schnitzels (fried chicken cutlet)!

We drove the Mt. Carmel mountain range which means "God's Vineyard".

We pressed on through the storm to Caesarea Maritima- Prior to Herod the great this area was just a beach.

A rich entrepreneur Rothschild reinvented this area in the early 1900's.

A few of our brave souls stepped out into the 70mph winds and were able to take pictures of the 2000 year-old aqueduct.

We entered in the area of crusaders and crossed the moat. They protected themselves from the locals but they did not conquer the land. The fortress was only good for a while.

The European Christians wanted this area but we’re from different armies with different motives and could not sustain it.

International trade brought materials, sugar pepper spices, silk, cloth from the far east….think Marco Polo.

Herod turned this place into a city in 31 BC. He was not so great - he was a Megalomaniac.

Most of this area was underwater lost to erosion. Marine archeologist discovered. It was and is the largest port. It is 1 days journey from Nazareth.

The port allowed for export of Israel’s 7 species.

And imports of marble, granite, woods, metal, slaves, people, imported culture.

As we raced through the wind and rain together, we watched the crashing waves of the Mediterranean ocean. The wind was fierce but we pushed on and Ronen gave another amazing lesson about this area.

Scripture is Acts 10 where Peter is summoned to Caesarea and the Holy Spirit is comes upon the Gentiles and then to the world. Herod's port had a purpose in God's greater plan.

Further on in Acts 25 Paul is in Caesarea. He appeals to Caesar and wanted to go to Rome to further spread the good news of the gospel.

Caesarea is a gateway to west.

Although our tour through the ruins was hindered, our learning of the word and seeing the importance of this place, stepping into a place where Peter and Paul shared the good news to the Gentiles was super powerful.

This journey has definitely been a full-body experience….

Now we head to Jerusalem…

As we press on in the weather we are praying for God's protection and further revealing of himself in this great city…

Shalom