In a way, contentment isn’t always a good thing. The Golan Heights illustrate why. A long plateau rises east of the Sea of Galilee, high above the surrounding basins. As the highland stretches north, basalt cones penetrate the landscape, betraying extinct volcanoes below the surface.
For thousands of years, the Golan Heights in Israel served history in countless ways—from pasturelands to burial grounds, from battlegrounds to borders. It’s no wonder this region has remained the envy of its environs—even to today.
The volcanic soils offer lush pastures for grazing—and spectacular panoramas for the eyes.
Although the stony ground was unforgiving to the plow, it proved ideal for the hoof.
Contentment with our stuff shows maturity. Contentment with our level of spiritual growth is immaturity. Wayne Stiles
Snow-capped Mount Hermon stands as the tallest point in Israel and serves as the hinge between the northern edges of the Golan Heights and the southern point of the anti-Lebanon mountain range.
King David married the daughter of the king of Geshur (2 Samuel 3:3), located in the southern part of the Golan Heights. Their union produced prince Absalom, who sought refuge in his mother’s homeland during his rebellion against David (2 Samuel 13:37-38).
If someone would ever write a book on the misnomers of Holy Land sites, Nimrod’s Fortress would have its own chapter. Perched in the foothills of Mount Hermon, the crumbling castle watches over the Huleh Basin from a beautiful vantage point.
More than a thousand years before Abraham buried Sarah in the Cave at Machpelah, the inhabitants of the Golan Heights buried their dead in dolmens.
The Gamla Nature Preserve offers one of the best places to see a dolmen. Although unconnected to Gamla historically, the dolmen’s association with death seems appropriate to the site.
Today, skeletons of Syrian structures lay scattered throughout the Golan Heights, giving silent testimony to the intense struggle that occurred to control the area. At one point, Syrian troops entrenched near Kfar Haruv—on the eastern ridge of the Sea of Galilee—fired down on the kibbutz at En Gev. During the Six Days War in 1967, Israel gained control of the Golan Heights from Syria.
The present overlook from Kfar Haruv allows visitors to enjoy a full view of the Sea of Galilee in one glance. Truly a spectacular view!
The Golan Heights remains one of Israel’s most strategic locations for national security. And yet, to visitors and tourists, the plateau represents a magnificent opportunity to explore some of Israel’s most historic places and scenic panoramas.
The Prophet Amos wrote to leaders who felt impervious to disaster and to the “cows of Bashan” who enjoyed tremendous material blessings but failed to give honor to God (Amos 4:1-2; 6:12-14).
Amos’ words require us to ask of ourselves: Where have our blessings blinded us to the need for personal holiness?
Contentment isn’t always a good thing. Contentment with earthly goods is a sign of maturity. Contentment with our level of spirituality is a sign of immaturity.
We have to be careful not to reverse the two.
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Golan Heights on the Map: