Israel 2022 - Reflections - Mount Arbel

 

Photo courtesty of Tourist Israel website: https://www.touristisrael.com/mount-arbel/2602/

Not every site we visited in Israel had direct Biblical significance. Our wonderful tour guide made sure we saw everything and I am so grateful. This site is a perfect example. This is Mount Arbel. It is never mentioned in the Bible. However, its prominence over the Sea of Galilee, just outside Tiberias, provided a spectacular view of the place Jesus focused his ministry, Galilee. We could see so many of the towns Jesus visited from this one point, Magdala, Gennesaret, Capernaum, Bethsaida, and Chorazain. 

We of course could see the Sea of Galilee. As I looked over this massive freshwater lake, I could imagine the stories of Jesus' life, sharing his new message. It was interesting to realize this twelve-mile-long lake was also a divider between the Jews and the Greeks of the 1st Century. In my mind, it is not a stretch to understand why Jesus chose the north end of the lake as the hub of his ministry. He had the opportunity to share the gospel with both Jews and Gentiles.

The area around the lake is so lush and a great spot for growing olives, bananas, and many crops. The sea itself is still a big part of the area through the fishing industry. 

Jesus had a plan. He chose this area of the world, the center of commerce and trade, fertile and vibrant, to spread his gospel. At one point our guide shared that Jesus left Nazareth for a specific reason. Nazareth was a very small town. During Jesus' first thirty years of life, he could hide, grow, and experience life as the Son of Man. But, when the time was right, Jesus moved to Galilee, in many ways, the center of the world. He instantly had a forum to spread his message to the ends of the earth and eventually die for our salvation.

As I ponder this point, I thought about Jesus' human side. I wonder about his first thirty years of life. I wonder if he was impatient to get his ministry going. I wonder if he thought like I have thought, "I feel like I am useless while I am waiting for God's plan to develop." 

For the past 62 years, I have not been a great servant of the Lord and now that I am dedicated to full-time ministry to the Lord, I often wonder why it took so long. But just like Jesus, I trust my Heavenly Father. His timing is perfect and waiting on the Lord is a privilege and an honor. Thank you, Lord, for choosing me to serve your Kingdom. I praise you regardless of how many years I have left before I come to you! AMEN!

'Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance

for his young children, those children are not much better off

than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own

everything their father had. They have to obey their guardians

until they reach whatever age their father set. And that’s the way

it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we

were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world. But

when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman,

subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were

slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own

children. And because we are his children, God has sent the

Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out,

“Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own

child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir. ' Galatians 4:1-7 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/GAL.4.1-7

Israel 2022 - Megiddo

 

I love reading scripture. I have to admit I enjoy reading the New Testament more than the Old. When I read the Old Testament I get caught up in the names and places and sometimes miss the true message of the Scripture. On the trip to Israel, I realized I should spend more time on this oft-neglected part of my Bible. A perfect example is Megiddo. 

Megiddo is an archaeological site in Northern Israel. This mountain is at a key place in the ancient trade routes and was a highly sought-after prize for its military importance. It has been important for four thousand years. Some of the gates we walked through were built by Solomon. On the planes below, epic battles took place between the Philistines, the Midianites, Saul, Joshua, and many of our favorite heroes of the Old Testament. This is one of those places I often glossed over while reading. Megiddo is mentioned in the books of Joshua, Judges, 1st & 2nd Kings, and 1st & 2nd Chronicles. But there are other places the name isn't mentioned but the valley below this encampment was the place of epic battles. 

SO, as I was touring this four-thousand-year-old site, I wondered how this impacts my faith life. That's when our guide stopped us and pointed to a rock stairway leading up the mountainside. He asked if we knew what it was, but none of us did. He said this narrow entrance was known as the "eye of the needle." It was an AHHA moment!

In both the Gospel of Matthew and Mark the story is recorded where Jesus is conversing with a rich young man. The conversation starts with the question, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus ends the conversation with "Dear Children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God."

My entire life I have looked at this verse as duh, it's impossible to get a Camel through the eye of a needle. But, could it be that Jesus was referencing this key place, the entrance into this stronghold, as he told the story?

We do not know for sure if this is Jesus's reference, but I think it is. My point is this. How close am I reading the text of the Bible? Is my daily reading just an item to check off my list?  Am I willing to devote the time and energy needed to really research, and dig, into the depths of the stories? Am I willing to learn about the people, and understand their lives, their thoughts, their joys, and their sadness? Should we slow down, take more time in our reading of God's word? What are we missing when we view studying God's word when we speed through the process just to get it done?

I am so thankful for this little revelation on our trip. 

The steps above lead to the "eye of the needle"

There is no way a camel is fitting through this opening!

The inhabitants of this military stronghold used high tech to survive possible sieges. They built this amazing water system, hidden from the enemy to give them endless water during long battles.

This was a storage bin for grain. I love the circular stairway to go down to the grain. 

This valley was the place of epic battles between the Philistines and Israel and most of our honored Heroes of the Old Testament defended our faith on this plane. 

I'm not sure which mountain this is. We could see Mount Gilboa, the place where King Saul and his sons died.

Mount Tabor can also be seen. It is one of the possible places of the Transfiguration.

Some of these gates were built and the city was fortified by Solomon (1 Kings 9:15)

Israel 2022 - Reflections - The Unexpected Reveal

 

To say that Israel is a treasure of discovery would be a gross understatement. The discoveries of new sites and treasures are happening nearly every day. As we were traveling between Mount Carmel and Megiddo, right next to the road, we found an unexpected treasure. Our wonderful tour guide warned us ahead of time that something special would be revealed on the left side of the bus. Sure enough, as the bus slowed (there was no place to pull off) a first-century tomb with a perfectly round stone appeared before our eyes. 

Our tour guide proceeded to tell us this first-century Jewish tomb was revealed in 1970 when the road was being widened. This tomb would be nearly identical to the tomb Jesus was buried after his crucifixion. 

I have lived life for over sixty years without needing to see the places we saw in Israel. My faith has never been stronger than it is today. I don't need to see the place my Savior was crucified, or where he was born. My faith is well beyond this. My faith is strong because of the evidence found in my own life. But, I feel so blessed that God has chosen to reveal these things to us. Today, after the trip to Israel, my faith is different. Besides the evidence of my life, I also have the solid, physical evidence, he truly did walk with us. Yes, something as simple as a first-century tomb, uncovered during a road construction project, is a gift from the Lord. 

This was a brief "drive-by" encounter. As we continued on to Megiddo, I had time to think about the historicity of our faith and the overwhelming evidence supporting the Bible and Jesus, God, coming to live with us. God has chosen to reveal these sites in Israel to support the faith of his followers, to encourage us, to demonstrate his power, and to draw us closer to him.

I wonder how many people traveled past this site before 1970 and never noticed the tomb? 

I wonder how many of us travel through life and don't recognize God's gifts and blessings, his presence that is revealed to us?

The world can be a scary place. Christians around the world face daily persecution. On this trip, we heard about the terrible persecution of our fellow Palestinian Christians. My only comfort is to know that God will reveal himself to these faithful followers as they grow in their faith. When he reveals himself, it is so much more powerful than zooming by a first-century tomb. When God reveals himself in your life and in my life, we are transformed. We are drawn closer to him. We feel his presence and most importantly we feel his perfect love. 

I pray that God will reveal himself to those being persecuted around the world. But, I also pray he will reveal his power and glory to YOU!

"But don't be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all." (Matthew 10:26, NLT)

Israel 2022 - Mount Carmel Reflections

    As a kid the story of Elijah defeating King Ahab, along with 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah, was one of the best stories in the Bible. I laugh every time when Elijah mocks these false prophets -- 

    "You'll have to shout louder, for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is daydreaming, or is relieving himself. Or maybe he is away on a trip, or is asleep and needs awakened!"(1 Kings 18:27)

But, as I stared at the statue of Elijah, I realized something. 

                                    He was all alone. 

In 1 Kings 18:22, Elijah said, 

 "I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left."

    Elijah was alone standing up to a powerful throng from King Ahab. But, even though he was fighting this battle alone, he had a powerful swagger as he mocked the enemy. He even went a step further and doused the entire altar with water, three times.

Why would he take such a stand when he was so greatly outnumbered? His own people had abandoned God. To everyone except Elijah there appeared to be no hope.

Elijah might have been the only prophet left to stand up against the evil, but he had all he needed. He prayed,

        "Lord, you are the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. Prove that you are the God of Israel and that I am your servant. Show these people that you commanded me to do all these things. Lord, answer my prayer so these people will know that you, Lord, are God and that you will change their minds." (1 Kings 18:36,37)

        Elijah stood up to nearly 1000 people and the King, just to save the people of Israel. He had such strong faith in the power of God and he wanted his people to have that same faith. But, that is not the end of the story. The people were facing a three-year drought. The power demonstrated by God was amazing, but that wasn't going to feed the people. Elijah said to King Ahab,

"Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!" (1 Kings 18:41)

    When we were standing on Mount Carmel, looking at the beautiful valleys below, there was not a cloud in the sky. When Elijah told Ahab there was a mighty rainstorm coming, the sky must have looked exactly the same. Seven times Elijah told his servant to look toward the sea. Then in the middle of the beautiful blue sky, a cloud appeared, the size of a man's hand, rising from the Mediterranean Sea, and it poured! God put an exclamation point in this wonderful demonstration of his power!

    Elijah stood up against evil, not just to show the power of the God he served. He stood up to evil to bring the people of Israel back to God. His "swagger", his confidence in the power of God, was all he needed and he knew when the people witnessed these amazing miracles, they would turn back to God.  

What am I doing to bring people back to God? Do I have the faith, the confidence, in God that he will show his power like he did on Mount Carmel? The God we serve is the same God that Elijah worshipped. Yet, we are reluctant to take the chance, standing against the evil all around us. 

Dear Heavenly Father, forgive me for my weak faith. Fill my heart with your Spirit that I might bring others back to you. Give me boldness and confidence to share your message of hope with people that are hurting and are lost. I pray your power will be displayed through me, just like it was displayed through Elijah. I love you Lord and I want nothing more than to serve you! Amen!

The Jezreel Valley looking south from on top of Mount Carmel. Mount Tabor and Mount Moreh in the background.

The valley of Jezreel is a very fertile valley and also a valley that has seen many battles throughout the Old Testament and after. Gideon vs Midianites, Saul vs Philistines are just a couple of the battles that took place here. 

 On top of Mount Carmel stands The Stella Maris Monastery. The grounds are beautiful and very peaceful. 

Israel 2022 - Caesarea reflections

    Our Day 1 trip began at Caesarea Maritime. There are two Caesarea's mentioned in the Bible. This is NOT Caesarea Philippi. It was a Pagan city, but as the Roman world became a Christian nation crosses like the one below started showing up in the city. This is one of the earliest crosses that shows up in architecture. 

    This was Pilate's home. He did not live in Jerusalem. He was there when Jesus was arrested as it was the Passover and he had to be in Jerusalem for all major Jewish Holidays. But, this stone is one of the very few extra-biblical sources that testify to his existence and supports the Biblical Narrative.  

    This city was an amazing modern city with all the entertainment, blood sports, theater, pools, etc. Herod even built a breakwater to make this a port for ships. This theater dates back to the first century and is still in use today for plays. 

Herod's palace at Caesarea faced the pools and overlooked the Mediterranean Sea. What a beautiful place to start spreading the Good News of Jesus!

Reflection

    As I walked the streets of Caesarea I could not help but think of two major events that happened in Acts. One was the sending of Peter to Cornelius. Peter came from Joppa which was about thirty miles away after seeing a vision to a gentile and from that point on the Gospel was opened to everyone. (Acts 10:1-10)

    The second major event was Paul's trials before Felix and Festus with Agrippa looking on. (Acts 23:23-26:32) Paul had been arrested much like Jesus and the Jews were trying to kill him, and condemn him to death. All of this even took place here, at Caesarea, in the palace area and it was from here that Paul left for Rome. 

    Both Paul and Peter were opening up the Gospel to a new people. I cannot fully comprehend the tension Peter felt as he was going to this Gentile's home. Maybe I can compare this to the typical Christian having a dream to go and share the Gospel at a Gay Pride celebration or hold a Bible study with the workers of an abortion clinic. We would all think, "Lord, how can you do this to me. These people are evil and sinners in the worst way."  What would you do if Jesus spoke to you in a vision to reach these people?  I am guessing that many of you would turn the other way and NOT answer in obedience.  The gentiles of the first century had no hope until Jesus came to set them free. Jesus used Peter and Paul and many others to spread the Gospel from these shores on the Mediterranean Sea. 

Visiting Caesarea was a great way to see and feel the need for us all to reach ALL PEOPLE as is mentioned in the Great Commission. Stephanie and I are committed to sharing the gospel with all those who feel rejected by the church, those who feel they are beyond hope. I have received the same vision Peter and Paul both received. God has given us our marching orders.

Who is God calling you to share the Gospel with?  Are you ignoring that call?  What would have happened if Peter and Paul had ignored their call?  

These two biblical events are in the Bible to motivate us to act reaching others, the disenfranchised, for Jesus.