I can still remember that first trip to Israel. It was chilly and dark by the time we got to our hotel in Tel Aviv that first night. Our Israeli breakfast the next morning was fantastic. It was fresh fruit, tomatoes, cheese, and several kinds of wonderful bread.

The Mediterranean was stunning. The trip from the hotel to the port of Jaffa revealed a culture significantly different than America.

Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Virtual Travels from Israel.

Today, Jaffa is a part of modern Tel Aviv. It is a rambling, interesting city with a long and colorful history. This is the port where Solomon’s cedars from Lebanon landed. Jonah left here on his adventure with the whale. The Greeks fostered their Andromeda legend here. You can see the rock where Perseus rescued her from the sea monster. Peter saw visions on the roof. Richard the Lion-Hearted built a citadel. Napoleon passed through the port. Jewish settlers landed here in 1890. Allenby routed the Turks from the port in 1917.

Jaffa is a city with a mysterious and romantic past. I could feel all of those old stories when I stood on the sea wall. This is the most beautifully restored ancient city in Israel.

Jonah wasn’t thinking about the past or the future when he came through Jaffa. He was mad at God. He refused to do what God had said. He wanted to do it his way. God had a plan and Jonah was the man. The whale changed Jonah’s mind. The rest is history.

My daily devotional time helps me to stay focused on the Lord. Jesus reminds me that if I will surrender my will to His he will make sure that I am on the right track. Think about it. We are not responsible for the future, only today. Do what the Lord says. Love Him and your neighbor.