Day 10 - Galilee - Jerusalem: Mt. Carmel, Caesarea Maritima

Mount Carmel

We climbed ruggedly beautiful Mount Carmel this morning. There were moments we scrambled up large boulders on our hands and feet and others where the uphill slopes took the wind right out of us.

Our effort was rewarded with a great view and the retelling of a powerful Bible story. This is where Elijah faced off against the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18:20-19:18. Each side tried to bring down fire from heaven but only Elijah succeeded. Then Elijah prayed and God brought rain that ended 3 years of drought.

Elijah was passionate about bringing the Israelites back to faith. He knew that worshipping Baal was leading them astray, and he wasn’t afraid to challenge them. Scott asked, “Do you have the passion of Elijah?” Thankfully, it’s okay to answer, “No, but I want it.”

After Elijah performed this amazing miracle, very little actually changes. He falls into a depression where all he can do is eat and sleep. God provides food for him until he’s regained his strength. Then God meets with him on another mountain.

There is a great wind then an earthquake and a fire. But God was not in those. Finally, God comes in a low whisper. Scott left us with two more intriguing questions: Can we cultivate both the passion and the whisper? Can the fire be in the kindness?

Caesarea Maritima

Our next stop was Herod’s palace on the Mediterranean Sea. Most of the structure is gone, but the prison that Paul was in is still there.

We sat in the impressive hippodrome where Herod held gladiator fights and chariot races. We read Hebrews 12:1-3 and thought about the “great cloud of witnesses” that surround us. Everyone had an opportunity to share the names and stories of faithful people who have passed away. We imagined them cheering us on as we raced around the hippodrome!

Finally, we went down to the shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Instead of searching for seashells, we collected pieces of Herod’s broken-down palace. Scott encouraged us to keep them as a reminder to build things of eternal significance rather than palaces for ourselves.