The LORD is slow to anger and great in power;
Nahum 1:3-5
the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished.
His way is in the whirlwind and the storm,
and clouds are the dust of his feet.
He rebukes the sea and dries it up;
he makes all the rivers run dry.
Bashan and Carmel wither
and the blossoms of Lebanon fade.
The mountains quake before him
and the hills melt away.
The earth trembles at his presence,
the world and all who live in it.
I’m falling little behind after a long weekend traversing the Galilee region in northern Israel. We were on the road from Saturday through Tuesday. I’ve been keeping busy since then with homework, studying, and because my mom is visiting, taking JUC’s short term trip for the next two weeks.
On Friday an eastern wind blew in. Why is this significant? When that happens, the hot, dusty air of the deserts to the east tumble into Israel. As the sun set that evening I snapped a few pictures of it through the thick haze.
Leaving early Saturday morning, we drove northwest to the Mediterranean coast to the ancient site of Caesarea, a favorite location of mine. Remember our favorite builder Herod the Great? He needed a port for his kingdom. Much of Israel’s coast is very flat, not making for an ideal port. Herod picked a spot on the swampy Sharon plain, drained the swamps, and poured concrete in the sea to form a large artificial harbor, forming a major port to rival the likes of Alexandria in Egypt. He then built a Greco-Roman city around it with all the modern conveniences like a theater, stadium, running water, and Roman temples. And, being Herod, he needed to build a palace for himself, which he placed extending into the sea. In the middle of it was a fresh water swimming pool. Why? He said so!
Normally the top of Mount Carmel offers an excellent view of the Jezreel Valley. However, given the oppressive haze, our view was limited this time, forcing us to use our imaginations. Compare this time to when I was last in Israel in 2005:
We journeyed northeast into the Jezreel Valley, a large, open valley that intersects the country, acting as a crossroads, allowing easy access in any direction. Untold numbers have traversed this valley throughout history. However, on the southwestern side is the imposing Mount Carmel, rising about 2000 feet, which blocks passage into the valley from the coastal highway to the south. A few passes run through this range, the most important of which exits at the ancient city of Megiddo, which controlled the passage. Pharaoh Thutmose III said after conquering the city, “Taking Megiddo is like taking 1000 cities.” That’s how important it was.
We finished the day at our hotel at Ein Gev on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Day one of four was complete. We had much more to learn about this region and lake.
