March 29 - The old port of Joppa - Jafa to the Israelis - is very charming. We landed in a youth hostel next to a flea market of some renown. I'm told it is very famous institution here, but it looked suspiciously like the junk we periodically cleared out of the garage and took to the dump. Apparently, I apparently lack the necessary culture and sensitivity to discern the difference..........
Joppa is where Jonah headed to get away from the will of God. He was instructed to go east and preach repentance to Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrians. Instead, he headed west. It was too much for him to believe that God would extend mercy to the nation which had just enslaved and plundered Israel. This was also the place where Peter received the revelation that God is no respector of persons. That was a huge stumbling block to the early church. A Pharisee would never sit down at the same table with someone who did not live to the same standard of ritual cleanness, and Gentiles were considered to be like someone "with a running sore." How would the servants of God ever be able to share the Gospel with Gentiles. Peter's vision of the clean and unclean took this barrier out of the way forever.
We take off from Ben Gurion Airport, which is next to Tel Aviv. We decided to fly home rather than take the Whale Excursion. The seats are more comfortable, and the food a whole lot better! I've never liked raw fish and seaweed anyway .........
Jonah 1 "Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord."
The Rocks of Andromeda offshore, something Jonah would have seen.
Acts 9:36 "Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive. And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord. And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner."
The House of Simon the Tanner. This ancient and no doubt authentic landmark can be identified by the words above the door written in 20th century English script
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