Israel series...Day 1

A Different World

The first night in Israel was spent in Tel Aviv. It was actually the only night spent there. We had enough time to walk over to the Mediterranean and take a stroll on the beach. The sand was fine and soft. The weather was warm and mild. The water was cold but beautiful. We saw kids playing in the sand, adults playing paddle games on the beach. Back at the hotel we gathered downstairs for dinner. It was the first of many meals where I saw vast numbers of salads and dishes assembled. Many were unfamiliar to me, but it was fun to try something different almost every night, and even more fun that I didn’t have to cook a single meal for 13 days! Going to bed my roomy surprised me with a birthday card and fun fuzzy socks.

I don’t travel much so when I do it is always amazing to wake up in one country and go to sleep in another. Tel Aviv was our shortest stop as we headed out first thing in the morning to Tiberias. As we traveled I tried to take in some of the scenery. I got the impression, which was further enhanced during the week, that this was a land of variety. I really did not have many expectations going in, I wanted to be open minded, but I was surprised at how varied the land is in a relatively small geographical area. There were mountains and valleys, green, lush farmland and desert areas, Bedouins that live minimally in the hills and modern complex cities. I tried to keep a list of the crops grown there, and finally ran out of room on the page I had set aside for it. I think the reason I was so amazed by the crops was the always-present rocks. I did not see any land without either rocks visible right in the soil or large piles of rocks that must have been removed in order to plant. I cannot imagine the effort it must have taken to tend this soil. I’m talking rocks everywhere. But someone has taken the effort because you see well-tended fields and crops along the roadside.

We visited Caesearea, Mt. Carmel, and Megiddo that first day. Caesarea was the first ruins I’ve been to in person. This was a palace built by King Herod. I thought of the quote from Jurassic Park “I spared no expense”. I’m pretty sure King Herod ‘spared no expense’ back in his day. He was either quite a brilliant builder, or hired brilliant builders. This palace had a working water system with aqueducts. He had built a port out into the sea so the ships would be able to sail directly in. There was a theater, a hippodrome (for chariot and horse races), a fresh water pool, detailed stonework and statues. I learned from Frank (one of our leaders) that this was the place where Paul was detained for a couple of years after many difficult missionary years. So Paul who had learned to be content in whatever circumstances was placed into a port city with connections all over the empire, in this grand palace, and detained. Frank called it the ‘club-med’ of its day. I had never thought about Paul who had suffered much for the gospel having a respite, a vacation in a sense, as he stayed in this palace with its beautiful ocean views and upscale conveniences; yet also what a perfect place to spread the good news as people sailed into and out of this port.

Next was Mt. Carmel and Elijah’s wonderful story. In your best Howard Cosel voice please- “The offering showdown between Baal and the living God. In one corner we have the up and coming Baal supported by his dozens of priests. Look at the frenzy, the cutting, the blood. In the other corner the undisputed reigning champion, Lord of Lords and Kings of Kings, represented solely by the Elijah da Wisah. He’s pouring on the water, he’s taunting the competition. Who will win the showdown today?” Standing firm and feeling God’s power- what a great way to live, what an encouragement in a multicultural world filled with half truths and people mistakenly choosing their own versions of god. Sara our guide encouraged us to live in the spirit of Elijah, to be a representative of the one true God.

It was only last week but I’ve already forgotten the significance of Megiddo. Luckily I think I took better notes as the week went on realizing that there was so much everyday I would forget if I didn’t. The only thing I have in my notes is rebuilt 20 times. I don’t know if I even took pictures or not… Oh well, less for you that are reading to have to read I suppose.

We ended the night at the kibbutz we stayed at for the next 4 nights. Right on the Sea of Galilee, the view was beautiful. I thought of the song- “You make everything glorious” as I sat for a few moments on the beach feeling the breeze and watching the sun slowly sink: Small glimpses of beauty to remind me of the source of all beauty and splendor.

And that was just the first day ☺.