Israel day 3 & 4

 

We were invited to do Mikvah

live Shalom, be a Kingdom of Priests

 

 

Esther

 

 

Amazing how strong the current was even with low water.

When the Israelites went through the Jordan they stepped in

and God divided the water

At that time it was flood stage, now the lowest of the year

 

 

With wet feet, sloshing in our shoes we went to Scythopolis

learned about Hellenism (Humanism in our time)

Power, Pleasure and Leasure

and the value system that goes with it

(Accumulation, Accomplishment and Appearance)

Money, sport and beauty

 

Sane values of the world we live in

if it feels good: Do it!

 

 

We were challenged to be a "Kingdom of Priests"

Obedience and walk your faith

bring Shalom to others

 

 

We learned that often a teaching from Jesus comes both

out of the Old Testament and addresses the culture

like the water changed to wine in Cana

Joel 3: “In that day the mountains will drip new wine,

also in the culture, it was believed that

the god Dionysus changed water to wine 

 

 

We visited the place where in ancient days the fishermen came

 to wash their nets. (fresh non mineral water)

Maybe where Jesus called His disciples (likely)

because of the warm springs sardines swim in this part

John 21: Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore,

but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

He called out to them,“Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat

 and you will find some.” When they did,

 they were unable to haul the net in

 because of the large number of fish.

 

 

In Bethsaida the fishing village where likely 5 disciples lived

they uncovered a gate from about 600-700BC

In the gate you find what people worship

(in this case a bull, so Baal worship)

 

Poor people also lived in the gates in Israel

Deuteronomy 14: At the end of every third year

you shall bring out the tithe of your produce of that year

and store it up within your gates. 

And the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you,

 and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow

who are within your gates, may come and eat and be satisfied,

that the Lord your God may bless you

 in all the work of your hand which you do.

 

There were ancient ashes in the city gate

Isaiah 1; Your country is desolate,    your cities burned with fire;

 

 

We walked into the fields

fields are small family owned and kept (Nahalah)

but King Salomon gave it to a foreigner: 1 Kings 9:

then King Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities

in the land of Galilee

 

In the parable of the soils (Path, thistles, rocks and good soil)

we are invited to take care of the soil of our hearts

 

 

That includes removing the stones from our field

Jeremiah 23: “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord,

“and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

 

On top of Mount Carmel

Where Elijah's contest with the Baal prophets happened

1 Kings 18

 

 

Elijah went to Sinai and after that he called Elisha as his disciple

we also are called to "make disciples"

 

 

Moria studies in Jerusalem,

she came for the afternoon all the way to Carmel to be with us

it took some perseverance, but we were so happy to see her!

Israel day1 and 2

 

Climbing Mnt Arbel, North west corner Sea of Galilee

talking about the history of the people

at Mnt. Sinai the people partner with God to be;

"a kingdom of Priests"

someone who puts God on display

 

Never in History were the Jews so Faithful as 2000 years ago

so why was there so much suffering?

the answer may be the book of Job,

many think it may have been written as the last book of the Old Testament

 

 

Lots of suffering at Arbel due to Herod the Great.

thousands of men and women were killed and raped here

Herod started fires in front of the caves, the smoke drove the people out

with a hook they fell to their death

Then Jesus came, with a message of forgiveness

 

For us it was fun to climb Mnt Arbel

steep and high, what a view

 

Galilee, a very fertile place

2 villages close to each other one 100% Jews, other 100%Arab

they work together at the Kibbutz and at the gas bar and such things

 

we were divided in Families

Ken and Janna were our family, great people!

 

Capernaum, Jesus' home town

close by He walked on water and stilled the storm

Job 9: He alone stretches out the heavens
    and treads on the waves of the sea

Psalm 107: He stilled the storm to a whisper;
    the waves of the sea were hushed

For almost everything that is in the New Testament

there is a similar story in the Old Testament

often it is where you get the context of the teaching

 

Walk on the ancient paths, to where the Zealots used to live

they were fighters, but also because that is in the book

Psalm 106: But Phinehas stood up and intervened,
    and the plague was checked.
This was credited to him as righteousness

These Zealots were Qinah (Zealous), just like God in Psalm 11

The Lord examines the righteous,
    but the wicked, those who love violence,
    he hates with a passion.

Jesus came to bring His kingdom by sacrificial love

 

You can also go by modern road to this place, but what fun is that?

we walked the ancient path up and down

 

in 1998 there were tanks near Omrit too, they caused a brush fire

and when it was extinguished they found a temple likely to Cesar Augustus

 

Herod the great had lots of benefits from Cesar Augustus,

and in good Roman stile you have to repay, so Herod build a temple to him

This was the Roman way;

 I do something for you, but expect you to do something for me

 

this temple was on the Damascus road, where the apostle Paul came by

another one with zeal (Qinah) using it the wrong way

 

Cappadochia

Just 1 picture

People used to live in caves here

More when we get home

Galatia

We are in Galatia

A beautiful farming area

Lakes, mountains and a fertile plane

Pergamum

We went to Pergamum first to the Escalapius, in ancient times it was like the Mayo clinic

The on top of the hill, the acropolis, an unbelievable large site 

We went with the cable car because is was raining 

We saw many ruins but the good stuff is actually in Berlin

We did see the base of an altar to "an unknown God"

On the way back we saw car dealerships on the main floor of a high rise in the middle of the city

Ephesus

So many lessons in this place, a very good day

Dydema

We went to Dydema, second largest temple in the world.

Temple of Apollos, people came with a question to be answered by an oracle. It could take a long time and was costly but people were hungry for a word from the god, makes you wonder we have the truth inGods  word, and people are still hungry .

Sardis

Temple of Artemis

We hiked up to the Acropolis 

That would be the top

Took a picture of RVL and Esther

Great view of the valley

Olive harvest

We watched a lady harvesting olives

A farmer took us to his field to show

I took a video too but my phone does not allow it to post, so I'll post that one later at home

Mustard Seed

We had a short stop in Nazareth

We looked at a mustard seed

If you have faith like a mustard seed you will be able to say to this mountain, move  into the sea, and it will move

This mustard plant is actually an invasive species and people hate it. They want badly to get rid of it, but every time it comes back. 

Interesting comparison 

Day 4

We started near the Sea of Galilee 

Then went on s warm hike to a field where we picked stones 

Moria joined us and we went down mount Carmel

I have respect for Elijah, going up and down 4x

Those rocks were not easy for hiking

Jordan and Beit Sh'ean

Such a good morning sitting by the Jordan River

Going to Beit She'an

My third time here, love it!

Gamla

Re-visited this very interesting place

Mount Arbel

What a climb, all the way from the bottom 

Arrived