Mt. Carmel – Will the Real God Show Up?

Its week three of our Insight to Israel that will prepare us for our April trip to Israel. Arriving in Ben Gurion Airport we have spent time in Tel Aviv, Joppa, and Caesarea Maritime. Now it’s a relaxing bus trip of 30 minutes up the Mediterranean cost and through the countryside to Mt. Carmel.

What comes to mind? Lets 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 part of the north end of mountains that are the backbone of Israel.
• It is close to where this range juts into the Mediterranean Sea just South of Haifa
• It is about 1800 feet above sea level
• It is where one can look south toward Caearea Maritime, north toward Haifa and east to the Valley of Jezreel
• It is also the place where we can look down on the hill of Meggido or Armegeddon.
• It is called beautiful and fruitful in 2 Chr. 26:10

Yet I suspect the first thought in our mind when we think of Mt. Carmel is of Elijah and conflict with the 450 Prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:17-40). The facts of the story are these:

• After Solomon the Israel split into 2 nations, the north was called Israel and the south called Judah.
• Every king of Israel (north) did evil.
• King Ahab of Israel married a Phoenician name Jezebel
• Jezebel had introduced and King Ahab had allowed worship of Baal
• Jezebel had ordered and King Ahab had allowed the massacre of the Lord’s prophets
• God commanded Elijah to confront King Ahab and Baal worshippers
• 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 two bulls; and let them choose one 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. Them 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 (1 Kings 18:23,24)