Well praise the Lord for His favour. Today we decided to head up to the north of the sea of Galilee, probably to Capernaum and then follow the lake back westwards over the Mount of beatitudes where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the mount. Then on to Tabgha, Dalmanutha and Magdala on the way back.
This was going to be a full day. It was already hot by 0930 and we were ready to see where the Lord would guide us, though we appeared to have our own itinerary.
We decided against a guided tour. We have the Creator of heaven and earth to guide our daily steps, so we headed for the local bus station. There was a multitude of young Israeli soldiers with semi automatic machine guns about their person, scattered across the station awaiting direction. It seems strange to see men and women so young, being in charge of such powerful weapons at such a tender age. But they are the future and they have a right to protect their own future. As young adults nobody blinks an eye if they see someone of that age being in charge of their own child. A far more valuable and priceless possession.
We set off on the bus, traveled along hot, winding roads past banana plantations before getting off on the side of the road, in the middle of what seemed like nowhere.
We were heading for Tabgha, Matthew 14:14, for the site of the feeding of the four thousand.
After we headed down a path off the beaten track that led to an overgrown part which led to the lake. I presumed that we couldn’t follow the edge of the lake around as there was a high security fence around a private monastery. However, I felt prompted to continue through the dense shrubbery.
We ended up cutting through some tall grass and happening on a prayerful area supposed to be the actual point at Dalmanutha, (Mark 8:10) , where Jesus set foot. This whole area, unbeknownst to us at the time, is out bounds to any tourist. I believe that the Lord makes ways for us to share these Holy sites if we seek Him earnestly first.
We earnestly prayed at this magnificent spot before heading onto Capernaum, along the gospel trail. Many coaches pass along this way daily, yet they miss the pleasure of walking along this route in the “Evangelical triangle“. Many people travel along the path but the way gets narrower and narrower.
It was another hour and a half walking in the blistering heat that seemed to be the hardest walk, but then those few minutes praying seemed to draw me closer to God. They were priceless.
God bless