Oh and don't forget your notebook. There is a lot to learn from Ariay, a Jewish Christian who was born on Mt. Olives just a few months before Israel was declared a state. Later he was in the 6 day war. Had his father in law, a carpenter and Auschwitz survivor, teach him carpentry. Travelled the world in orchestras. Led the first Handahls Messiah in Hebrew. And he now guides people through the land of Israel teaching them how to see through Jewish eyes.
JOPPA , CAESAREA MARITIMA, MT. CARMEL and CLIFFS of ARBEL
Our first stop was Joppa where Jonah ran down to the port to get on a boat away from the will of God. Ultimately causing him to be thrown overboard and then he was swallowed by a fish and taken further down. The steps through Joppa literally lead a winding path down to the sea. So to say Jonah went down in his sin is literal. Napolean tried to conquer the land through this port. This area was also covered by swamps. Ariay believes that God used the swamps to keep the land for Isreal. After all if the land was choice everyone would have wanted it. As it was the fact that it was on the major trade routes from Egypt to Syria and further north made it a land much fought over.
From Joppa on to Caesarea Maritima we were able to see one of Herod the Great's palaces. Desiring to have a city appealing to Romans he built it in a way that would attract them. He was able to make a cement that could be used in the water and built a magnificent port. Along the port he had a hipodrome where olympic type games, as well as chariot races, would have been played. Nearby with a view of the stadium the apostle Paul would have been kept, in prison, for 2 years awaiting trial while the Roman authorities tried to determine why Paul was there. A large Roman theater is still in use today. And the sound is amazing in this theater. I was halfway up the center where the King would have sat, and I could hear our guide clearly and he was not even yelling. Further up the coast, and partially buried by sand dunes is a Roman Aqueduct. A water delivery system that was used quite often by Herod the Great in his other palaces.
A much further drive took us along the coast then heading inland to Mt. Carmel. You'll recall this as the place where Elijah called down the fire from heaven. So what was the significance of the water being poured onto the alter? It was more than just to wet the wood. (1 Kings 18) First the people were in a 3 year drought that had affected everyone and so water was very precious. The Israelites would have had water with them and it would have been extremely valuable. How would they have filled the barrels with water in a drought? Here is where God asks a sacrifice of the Israelites - give me your water. The faithful gave first. Then he asked a second time. And then a third. Those in the last two groups were likely humbled as they gave of what they weren't willing to give at first. In Israel water is a precious commodity so one of the greatest sacrifices people can offer to God is their water. And even greater is to pour out their water on the ground for the Lord. Just as Elijah did. Not only was God going to prove Himself powerful but he also provided for those who sacrificed. We went down into a garden area and read the story together with different people reading the different parts. Amazing! And now as I review the story I see it all, the land, the terrain, the distance travelled and the preciousness of water.
Another thing that Ariay taught us was that Elijah had to ask only once for judgement but had to ask 7 times for grace. Rain in english actually means grace in Hebrew. And the root word for rain means incarnate so the cloud literally incarnates itself into rain. The same root word is used when speaking of Jesus incarnate.
We ate lunch and headed for the cliffs of Arbel which look down upon the sea of Galilee. (Matthew 14:22) It is here that our guide believes that Jesus retreated to after the feeding of the 5 thousand. As we were up on this cliff we could clearly see the sea of Galilee. Ariay asked why Jesus waited until the 4th watch to help the disciples. Simply because it was not the time to go any sooner. It was His time to spend with the Father. Often we want to rush to save and help those in need jumping ahead of the Lord and His timing. We must learn to wait upon the Lord and for His timing. He is the only One who can calm the troubled seas and the storm and it is our faith in Him that enables us to walk through difficult circumstances. Finally, the time would have been when most of the fisherman were back in their ports and so a miracle, Peter walking on the water, that Jesus wanted to be between He and Peter would have been seen by many.
There have been many times in the past few months where I have felt as though my life, and my faith, has been tossed about upon the stormy seas. God really spoke to me and reminded me that my faith must rest in Him. Not in Scott, my children, or in my pastor, not in my friends, my abilities, or my desires for life my faith must rest only and completely in Him!
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