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Israel Study Tour - Scott Heare
March 19 - April 2, 2015
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Relentless pursuit
A small white cloud blew across the sky this morning above Mt Carmel. The timing of our arrival to the top of the 1400 ft peak was perfect; it was a beautiful day with plenty of water to sip along the way. I thought about the servant of the prophet Eliyahu (Elijah) who summited Carmel seven times in a row, and my muscles ached thinking about him.
On the mountain, our Rabbi Scott recounted the story of the drought that led Eliyahu to summon Israel to this mountain. The prophet challenged the people of israel saying, "how long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is G-d follow him, but if Baal is G-d follow him" (1Kings 18:21). G-d said these things because His people had lost their moral compass and looked to a god called Baal for answers. Thus they had no rain.
After a bloody showdown on Mt. Carmel, between the priests of Baal and the G-d of heaven, the Lord proved himself as victor against all odds. He does that. Then Eliyahu sent His servant to find evidence of rain.
After climbing down and up, down and up seven times Eliyahu's servant returned to report a cloud the size of his fist. He didn't quit until his task was complete. And it came: Rain. Blessing. Provision.
Mt. Carmel
Biblically, Mt. Carmel is referenced most often as a symbol of beauty and fertility. To be given the “splendor of Carmel” was to be blessed indeed (Isa 35:2). Solomon praised his beloved: “your head crowns you like Mount Carmel” (Song 7:5). But for Carmel to wither was a sign of devastating judgment (Nahum 1:4).
The next stop of the day was the ancient seaside port city of Caesarea. Crashing waves pointed the way to the place where Paul was in prisoned and to where king Herod built his palatial mansion. We sat on the steps of the nearby hippodrome remembering Paul's encouraging words to run the good race and fight the good fight. I couldn't help but think about Cornelius the Centurion who relentlessly pursued the Lord in this same place (Acts 10).
As the day closes we ascend Zion carrying weary pilgrims on the bus, some snoozing some reading the ancient psalms of ascent. I find myself praising the Lord and reciting the words "Give the LORD no rest until he completes his work, until he makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth." Isaiah 62:7
-Gayle Timberlake
Caesarea Maritima
The city and harbor were built under Herod the Great during c. 22–10 BC near the site of a former Phoenician naval station known as Stratonos pyrgos (Στράτωνος πύργος).[2] It later became the provincial capital of Roman Judea, Roman Syria Palaestina and Byzantine Palaestina Prima provinces. The city was populated throughout the 1st to 6th centuries CE and became an important early center of Christianity during the Byzantine period, but was mostly abandoned following the Muslim conquest of 640. It was re-fortified by the Crusaders, and finally slighted by the Mamluks in 1265.
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