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

Today we toured an interesting place next to the tel of Beth She’an. It was a beautiful Roman city built in 63 BC and destroyed by a mega earthquake in 749 AD. Our guide Ronan gave us a graphic picture of the clash of two civilizations that spoke volumes to me. The Romans had become masters of the “wow factor” to entice the people of Israel to buy into their way of life. We learned that one way they did this was through elaborate theater plays. These were free to the public. I could see how it would be really easy to get caught up into their way of living. The day before we had participated in the simple but difficult life of a first century village. What an extreme contrast! We went from rural basic hard living to the latest edition of comfort and entertainment. I am reminded how we started the GTI tour with the thought that God gives us just enough as we experienced life in the desert. Today we were presented with the Roman culture of wanting more and more…that just enough isn’t enough. This sounds like a familiar story from the garden when Satan whispered “It isn’t enough in what God has provided”.

Gary Jayne's