From Chorazin to Golan Heights

8am Israeli Time.
Cornflakes for breakfast, omelete, little cake, orange juice to start off a bright new day!



9am
Look at the bright morning sun all set for the day!

As we started the day, the tour guide started with an interesting story too. She told us that they were told that when Angel Gabriel was distributing rocks across the world, he accidentally tripped and strewn all the rest of the rocks on Israel when he passed by this part of the world. That's why everywhere we see, it's rocks, rocks rocks. rocks everywhere. =)

10am Here we are at the first stop of the day. Chorazin.

At the remnants of an old synagogue.

Matt 11:20-24 "Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.""

Korazin (Chorazin) was a small little city.. yes, looking at the way we could easily walkaround it. It was really small. But its a small little city with little beliefs/faith even though Jesus did many miracles there. If they had believed, they would have remained and we would have seen them. But because they did not believed, today, they are no more. Nothing more than these remnants we see.. Today, would you believe and leave behind a spiritual legacy, or would you disbelieve and be led to eternal ruins?

10.45am Moving on to Tel Dan, where the Tribe of Dan lived.
Here is also where the origins of the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee is found. Beginning the 1st trek of the trip...I found it! The source of Jordan River! Not enough to just reach the site, but to go down and touch the freshest spring water from it's origin. =)Being the first allows me to take a breather while waiting for the rest to arrive. (What was the teaching done here? Opps.. I can't seem to remember!)11.25am Venturing past the nature reserve is an archealogical site. The old City of Dan. I was surprised to know that the city gate is a complex. Yes, not just a gate you walk past, but literally a building with rooms and storage and the most interesting thing is that the king sits just inside the gate to judge everyone who comes into the city. It's interesting cos in the chinese culture, (or even when we play chess!) the King is usually hidden from sight, in the most secure corner. But here, the king is right at the gates of the city, judging everyone before they enter the city. It's true! Check out 2 Sam 19:8 !
So here I am, Princess Petrine, sitting on the supposed throne of the king at the entrance of the old City Dan. It is interesting to hear from the tour guide that no archaelogist will say that they found a common item. Archaelogists will claim that their find is a treasure! Such as a king's seat. So when we see the artefacts, it's up to us to discern on the authenticity.

1Kings 11:4,6,11

As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the LORD; he did not follow the LORD completely, as David his father had done. So the LORD said to Solomon, "Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates.

What a pity. King Solomon was the wisest and wealthiest man on earth. But his heart turned away from God when he grew old. As a result God gave 10 tribes to his servant Jeroboam, one of which is Dan, and the remaining 2 tribes, Benjamin and Judah, under the reign of Solomon's son, Rehoboam.

1 Kings 11: 34-38

"But I will not take the whole kingdom out of Solomon's hand; I have made him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of David my servant, whom I chose and who observed my commands and statutes. I will take the kingdom from his son's hands and give you ten tribes. I will give one tribe to his son so that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to put my Name. However, as for you, I will take you, and you will rule over all that your heart desires; you will be king over Israel. If you do whatever I command you and walk in my ways and do what is right in my eyes by keeping my statutes and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you. I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I built for David and will give Israel to you. "

Alas, Jeroboam didn't trust God fully in His promises.

1 Kings 12: 26-29

Jeroboam thought to himself, "The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David. If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam." After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves. He said to the people, "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt." One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. 30 And this thing became a sin; the people went even as far as Dan to worship the one there.

Jeroboam not only sinned because he distrusted and disobeyed God, he also created his own God of convenience. Worse still, he asked others to join him in worshipping his god of convenience. What about us? Do we listen and obey God? Do we do things our way, thinking that it would be better? Do we try to reason things our way? When it's inconvenient, difficult and you might face ridicule, would you still do it for God? Where is your heart today? Partly for God or Wholly for God?

God pursued Jeroboam throughout 1 Kings 12, but Jeroboam did not listen. In the end, he lost everything -- the ruins we see in Dan is just part of the ruins. Jeroboam had no more kingdom after the 4th generation.

1 Kings 12:34

This was the sin of the house of Jeroboam that led to its downfall and to its destruction from the face of the earth.

If you would follow God, there will be no destruction but Paradise.. ( =P trying to link the teaching with the next destination la)

And here, they call it Paradise.. cool and clear water.. right at the source of the Jordan River!

1pm Lunch time!! at a Lebanis Restaurant which looks quite.. er.. normal on the outside..

But hey, rather nice once you enter it! If sit inside the restaurant, it has a nice cottage feeling. Outside at the courtyard is a cool breeze with the streams flowing on the side.

And here's introducing FALAFEL. They call it Israeli's national snack/burger/food. Whatever you call it, it is a must-eat-when-you-come-to-Israel-else-don't-say-you've-been-there-before! It's just Pita bread which is plain and cold, with extremely tasty (aka sour and salty salads) and freshly fried chick peas meatballs! Overall combination is nice! Yum yum!!2pm After lunch we went to the second source of the Jordan River, at Caesarea Philippi.

Due to the long post, I've cut down on a lot of photos to be posted.. but basically, this is the top view down. Imagine us walking along the way. I was told that there would have been more water gushing around during Mar-May spring time, but this is winter period, so the water level is much lower. This is also a Greek Pagan site where a half goat half man god called Panyas was worshipped.

Caesarea Philippi was where I thought Jesus asked Simon Peter "Who do you say I am?" but I was told that because this is a pagan site, Jesus was not thought to have asked the question here. So the curious me asked "Why couldn't Jesus have asked that question just because it's a Pagan site?" Then I was taught to observe the text carefully.

Matt 16:13-18

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

It says "came to the region", it wasn't a specific place. Don't trust God's word? Check out Mark 8:27 too! In Luke 9:18, the question was a private question directed to his disciples only. It's not important where the question was asked, but more important to note what the question is. Who do you personally recognise Jesus to be?

When you declare Jesus as Lord and Saviour, the Christ and Messiah, God will use your declaration as a rock, a foundational truth to build His church. For that declaration is the evangelism and the work of evangelism is through God's people and church.

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Selling empty bottles so that people can go and collect the Jordan River?? Think my empty mineral bottle has collected at least USD10 worth of the Jordan River water!! HAHAHA

3.30pm Last stop of the day at Golan Heights! And here we are overlooking at Syria.

I didn't put up any pictures, but on the way, we could see tanks and army barracks actively on alert at all times. Looking at the plains, I couldn't help but wonder, when will the war end? When will Jesus come back again? When will there be peace on earth?

Sharing an ice-cream at the highest and coldest point in the northern most area.

And some aunties "crazy" over rosemary... And they say Golan Height Apples are special!

4pm And so that's the end of the day. We were brought to a provision shop on the way back so that we could get some fruits (else we can only stock up on fruits in the morning during breakfast) and I thought there shouldn't be much of a surprise there until..

ooOOoo the fruits are big!!! I didn't put up the rest of the photos.. but pomegranates and tomatoes are bigger than your palms!

5pm The beautiful sunset on the way back

And everyone on the bus taking photos of the sun set =P


God's glorious beautiful tapestry. What a Hallelujah!

7pm Dinner!

8.30pm Seemed like a long day. So much information, so much sights! I just can't wait to see more... Little did I realise that really more unexpected things would await me....