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

Today we walked down Main Street, went shopping and to the theater, and then went to the horse race. Of course, it wasn’t exactly what first comes to your mind… but it was close. What we visited were several sites where we saw how the Israelite people had to fight against compromise, when confronted by the pagan cultures around them.  

At Beth She’an we saw the ruins of a 2nd and 3rd century city. It had a prominent main street (called the cardo because it was the heart of the city), which was lined with soaring columns. It had an impressive theater that is still used today for performances. And it had an upscale shopping district where we could still see the remnants of fantastic mosaic tile floors. But… the city lays in ruins—a poignant reminder that all the things of this world are passing away (1 John 2:15-17). 

We also visited Tel Megiddo. A tel is a mound with a flat top and steeply sloped sides where multiple layers exist, each containing the remnants of an ancient city built on top of the previous one after it was conquered or destroyed. Tel Megiddo has twenty such layers, three of which had been excavated and restored so that we could see the huge stone gates that served as entrances to the city at different times in its history. While even the most fortified city couldn’t withstand the enemies around it, we were reminded as we sat upon it and looked out over the Jezreel Valley that the battles we are fighting are spiritual battles, and belong to the Lord. It is true for us as it was when Gideon fought here, with only 300 men, and won a great battle in that same valley. 

Although we only stopped briefly at the foot of Mount Carmel to eat our lunch (those smiley face cookies were amazing!), it was a great opportunity to hear the story of how God sent fire to consume Elijah’s offering when Baal could not do the same for his prophets. Again, the battle belonged to the Lord. 

Our last stop was at Ceserea Maritima, a sprawling city built by Herod the Great on the shores of the Mediterranean. This city had an impressive theater that seated many thousands of people and performed shows which served to spread the Roman culture. It also had a lavish palace with a beachside swimming pool, and two hippodromes for horse racing. It was in this city where Paul was likely imprisoned, and where he had opportunity to present the Gospel to many, including Felix and Agrippa. 

As we sat overlooking the city and the sea, we were reminded that Herod had built this place to please only one person, and that person was himself, but Paul lived to please only God. The things we buy, the things we build, the things of this world will pass away, they will fall and fail and crumble, but the one who does the will of God lives forever.