Seaside Sights and Valley Views

I could get used to waking up in Tel Aviv! After a good night’s sleep, we left our hotel rooms for a buffet breakfast filled with fresh produce, cheeses, eggs, and cakes, then set out for Caesarea Maritime. Executive Vice President Steve Conover set our focus with a devotional reminding us of God’s faithful protection of Israel.

Many of us enjoyed walking the lively streets of Tel Aviv last night. People were enjoying the end of Shabbat on the beach and in the streets, so we could see firsthand the joy these people have in their beautiful city. Tito taught us Tel Aviv’s history on our drive this morning. Founded in 1909, the land is a unique blend of old and new, which is also the meaning of the city’s name and comes from the book written by Theodor Herzl, the father of modern Zionism. Many Eastern European Jews fled persecution in the early 20th century. Hoping to create their own version of New York City in Israel, 61 families intuitively used their money to build the city’s infrastructure, the foundation for the rapidly developed, thriving city of Tel Aviv.

Caesarea Maritime was breathtaking. While we could have spent hours just exploring the ancient architecture and Mediterranean shore, we were also taught a wealth of scriptural and historical details about the city. Like Jaffa, it is a seaport, but unlike Jaffa, it was man-made. Herod the Great wanted a port that would be greater than Jaffa, so he sunk concrete into the water and created the largest concrete structure in the ancient world, Caesarea. Another notable biblical ruler connected to Caesarea is Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judea who “washed his hands” of Jesus’ crucifixion. A stone found at Caesarea marks the only extra-biblical evidence that Pilate existed and ruled under Emperor Tiberius’s reign, as Scripture says.

Picking up from our visit last night at Simon the tanner’s house in Jaffa, our time in Caesarea reminded us that Peter’s vision of the unclean animals was immediately followed by the arrival of Cornelius’s men. Cornelius was a Roman centurion who lived in Caesarea, and when the Holy Spirit sent Peter to Caesarea with the men, he shared the gospel message with Cornelius’s house. This effectively jumpstarted the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham to bless the world through the Jewish people, as the gospel then spread throughout the world not just to Jews but Gentiles too. That makes us believers living stones, memorials to the gospel, as Jim Showers explained while we sat in Caesarea’s ancient theater.

We enjoyed an early lunch at Mitzpe Carmel on our way to the top of Mount Carmel. On the other side of the gate we were met by a beautiful courtyard of blooming flowers, ornate structures, and a statue of the prophet Elijah. At the top of the mountain we were treated to a view that seemed to show us the entire land of Israel! We were actually looking at the Jezreel Valley, an overwhelming display of God’s goodness to Israel. North American Ministries Director Steve Herzig spoke about Elijah’s chutzpah, being bold enough to rest in knowing God would honor Elijah’s prayer and sacrifice to miraculously send fire to demonstrate to Israel that He was their God.

We then headed to Tel Megiddo. A tel is a hill built on the ruins of a former settlement; so Tel Megiddo, like Tel Aviv, is a site with much history beneath its ground. And like Mount Carmel, the view atop Tel Megiddo did not disappoint! We could see much of the Jezreel Valley again at the overlook where Jim Showers shared Tel Megiddo’s biblical future, an event we know as the Battle of Armageddon from Revelation 16. Many people mistakenly believe Christians who want to bring Jewish people back to the land of Israel just want to do so to initiate their destruction. This couldn’t be further from the truth! The Battle of Armageddon is a future time when the pagan nations gather to destroy the Jewish people, but God will defeat these armies, helping complete God’s ultimate plan for the world. He will restore the Jewish people, and they will fulfill their ultimate destiny of leading the world in worship of Jesus the Messiah. We finished our time at Tel Megiddo with a steep walk down almost 200 steps underground into the water system before emerging back into the sunshine where our tour bus was waiting for us. 

The next leg of our tour brings us to the Galilee region. We’ll spend the next three nights at the Ramot Holiday Resort Kibbutz overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Now it’s time for dinner at the hotel, reflecting on our day, and preparing for tomorrow. I think we’re all looking forward to our time on the sea—I know I am!

Our Team

Author: Jesse King
Staff Writer
The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry

Photos: Mary Hopp
Human Resources Manager
The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry