CARMEL
A misty cove on the slopes of Mount Carmel - David Kiern 2016
The winter mist hung low, obscuring our view as we wound our way up the face of the craggy mountain. Back and forth we drove until we reached a gate near the summit. I’ll never adequately be able to describe the palpable experience of personally setting foot upon ground famous for its history. Especially history where God showed up in dramatic fashion. And He certainly did on Carmel…
Contest at Mount Carmel - Martin, David, 1639-1721
2,902 years ago, the prophet Eliyahu, or Elijah as you may know him, called for a showdown with the prophets of Ba’al, the Canaanite god of water and storms, on top of Mount Carmel (kar-MEL). Elaborate, makeshift altars were carefully constructed for this duel between gods. THE ROCKS to build these altars surely came from any of the thousands of boulders strewn about the mountainside. As with any worthy altar constructed to the God of Israel, these stones were uncut, not beautifully hewn like in the illustration above. The 12 large jars worth of WATER used to thoroughly douse Elijah’s sacrifice were most likely drawing from one of the recently discovered springs we read about earlier in the chapter. (I Kings 18:5)
It was here that Elijah “drew near” lifting his simple prayer to Heaven, “Let it be known today that You are God in Israel.”
Carmel summit - David Kiern (2016)
As I stood atop Carmel, I found a plot of earth devoid of any evidence of the modern world and gazed through the fog at the trees and the rolling landscape beyond. I imagined myself to be an onlooker; an Israelite, anxious to see which god would prevail.
It was here that the Maker of Heaven and Earth answered with FIRE! Consuming the entire bull, the wood, the stones, the dust, and even licking up the water!
I imagined the sudden heat on my face and arms from the intense column of flame firing down from above! I could almost hear the screams of fear mixed with shouts of praise: both recognizing the Almighty God. I could envision the priests of Ba’al running for their lives in vain. The “god of water and storms” was soundly defeated by the Creator of all things…
…on this mountain!
“The Sacrifice of Elijah” by Aert Jansz. Marienhof, 1626-1654
Today, a small structure sits near the summit. A flat rooftop provides a platform to soak in the expansive view of the valley of Armageddon to the East and the Mediterranean Sea to the West; the same direction where Elijah’s servant saw a cloud “the size of man’s hand”. The tiny, but sufficient, promise of much needed rain.
Rainclouds over Carmel - David Kiern 2016
Before we descended, I entered the small, stone chapel with my friend Blanca. We lifted our voices together in a song of praise that echoed off the walls:
“For Thou O LORD art high above all the Earth,
Thou art exalted far above all gods…
I exalt Thee… I exalt Thee… I exalt Thee… O LORD.”
Aaron + Blanca singing “I Exalt Thee” on Mt Carmel (2016).
