We have now had two days of touring in Israel. Each day is somewhat rigorous. By 7:15 we have eaten breakfast and are off for a day of sightseeing. We return to the hotel for dinner, and are done at about 8:00 PM. Last night at dinner I met Chuck Swindoll and the emcee, Paul Sailhamer. After hearing our story of receiving this trip as a gift from the church, Paul asked me to come up front and tell the story for all 600 people to hear. The picture here is Chuck Swindoll speaking at the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).
We have really enjoyed Israel. In many ways it is similar to California with its agriculture. There are fruits, nuts, and many different irrigated crops. There are rolling hills with many of the same wildflowers as California. Having heard the names of towns from Bible stories, there is an immediate familiarity. Seeing the sights gives a whole new insight into Scripture.
The first stop we made was to Caesarea. Herod the Great built this Roman city, which included a theater, a hydrodome for chariot races (like Ben Hur), and a palace. Pontius Pilate lived here at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion. Cornelius, the first Gentile Christian, lived in Caesarea, and Paul was imprisoned here for two years.
We also visited Megiddo. Megiddo was a strategic city on a hill near an important trade route. There has been a lot of archaelogical excavation in Meggido. Meggido was originally a Canaanite town with Baal sacrifice. Later, after the city was conquered by David, Solomon fortified the city. Many major battles occurred in the Jezreel Valley below this city. One of them was when Barak and Deborah fought Sisera. This is also the valley where Jesus will triumph in the Battle of Armagedon.
About 10 years ago this tomb was found along a roadside, as the lanes were being widened. It is similar to the tomb that Jesus was buried in.
We went up to Mount Carmel, where Elijah had a showdown with 850 prophets of Baal. Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to have their god send fire down to consume an offering. The Baal god was the god of lightening. Only the true God responded with fire, and Elijah triumphed.
The last picture I’ll show you is Capernaum. In Luke 4, Jesus heals a man who is lowered into a house, likely Peter’s mother-in-law’s house. Jesus teaches in the synagogue, and goes back to Peter’s mother-in-law’s house to heal. The synagogue ruins are in the picture, which is taken from the neighboring house where Jesus healed.
We really have enjoyed the Galilee area. It is beautiful. One of the guides at a site we saw today was named Conner, an Israeli Christian in his 20’s. I don’t know his story, but he was so excited to share about Jesus in Nazareth, and to bless us. As each of us left, he shook our hands, looked us in the eyes, and said, “God bless you.” We are truly blessed to be in Israel. Like Conner, may we be blessed to bless others!
We found a place in the hotel with free internet access, so we may put another post up on Friday evening.
