Day Two

Mt. Carmel - Will the Real god Show Up?

After our tour of Caesarea Maritime we take a relaxing bus trip to Mt. carmel.

What comes to mind? Let's look at some facts

• It is named Carmel which means "Vineyard of God"
• It is a place where soil, moisture and sun allow for productive vineyards
• It is a part of the north end of mountains that are the backbone of Israel
• It is close to where this range just into the Mediterranean Sea just south Haifa
• It is abut 1800 Feet ab love sea level
• it is called beautiful and fruitful 2Chr. 26:10

Yet I suspect the first thought in our mind when we think of Mr. Carmel is of Elijah and his show down with the 450 Prophets of Baal (I Kings 18). The facts are these:

• After Solomon the nation of Israel split into 2 nations, the north was called Israel and the south called Judah
• Every king of Israel (North)
• King Ahab of Israel (North ) married a Phoenician woman named Jezebel
• Jezebel ordered and King Ahab allowed the massacre of the Lord's prophets
• Elijah confronted Ahab and it resulted in a showdown on Mt. Carmel
• Elijah challenged Israel to consider which God they would follow

The famous statement of Elijah was:

Let them give us 2 bulls; and let them choose 1 bull for themselves cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it and I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord and the 

God who answers by fire, He is God (I Kings 18:23,34)

Let them give us 2 bull; and let them choose 1 bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and layout on the wood, b ut put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord and the God who answers by fire, He is God (I Kings 18:23, 34)

What is our Insight from Israel? At Mt Carmel we are reminded that even God's people are prone to be influenced by the world around them and the gods they worship. At Mt. Carmel we realize we have to make a choice between the gods of the world or the true and living God! At Mt. Carmel we earn that that the only true God is alive and able of sending fire from heaven. At Mt. Carmel we ask "Will the True God Show Up?"