For the next 10 days Teri and I are leading a tour of Israel for several members of our church and other friends. I will try to document the trip via this blog for anyone who is interested in following our progress. After a long flight from NYC our group landed in Israel around noon on Tuesday, January 1. We were blessed with a beutiful day to start 2013 as we traveled along the Mediterranean Sea from Tel Aviv to Netanya. The significance of this particular part of Israel is that the ancient city of Joppa is where the prophet Jonah ran from the Lord and eymbarked from there to escape only to find that Jehovah God could find him anywhere- even out at sea. Jonah left from Joppa to escape the will of the Lord. As I look out at sea here I think of the extent to which the human heart will go to run from God. A good reminder on the first day of the new year that we are to discipline ourselves daily to walk with Him.
Our group enjoyed a fantastic meal at our hotel before much needed rest. We woke up greatly refreshed on Wednesday and spent the morning in Caesaria, the ancent ruins of the great Roman city biult by Herod the Great. It was here that Paul made his defense before Felix and Agrippa in Acts 24-26. This is one of the most amazing escavations of Roman ruins found anywhere.
The theater, ampitheater and hippodrome are all overlooking the beautiful man made port that jets out into the Mediterranean. This entire city is an incredible testimony to the splender of the Roman empire and King Herod's reputation as a great builder. The aquaduct that still stands is over 2,000 years old and the port Herod built with underwater concrete can still be seen from the shore. What a ,n amazing empire existed here for hundreds of years around the time of Christ.
As I look out at these beautiful ruins, my spirit is impressed that kings and kingdoms will all pass away, but the name of the Lord will stand forever. In one of the great ironies of ancient history, the power and might of the ancient Roman empire that at one time attempted to stamp out Christianity, would eventually succumb to the beliefs of the followers of that humble carpenter from Nazereth.
From here we made our way to the top of Mount Carmel where Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal. The day was beautiful and clear so that we could easily see across the Jezreel valley. I am struck that it was from this place that God demonstrated His power to all of Israel by consuming the altar (1 Kings 18). One can see why Elijah picked this spot to make his stand. It almost seems as if you can see all across Israel from here. From this vantage point one looks out over the tel Meggido all the way across to Nazareth to Tabor to Gilboah. It was no doubt a spectacular panaramic view that added splendor to the words of the prophet as he chastised God's people for their idolotrous hearts.
This morning I reminded our group of those words,
"How long will you limp along between two opinions?" Eljah said.
What challenging words for modern people! How often we start off with good intentions and yet quickly our hearts are drawn to those things we think will give us life. We depend on so many other things besides the Lord God to give us significance; whether it be our jobs, our relationships, our pleasures. In truth, we are not unlike the Israelites calling on the false prophets of Baal. It occurs to me that through His grace and by His gospel we need our own Carmel experience from time to time.
A prayer from Carmel for 2013:
Lord God, as we come into a new year, may our hearts be steadfast toward your ways. May we not limp along between two opinions like the Israelite swayed by prophets of Baal. May we see through the folly of putting other things on the alter of our hearts. May we see that all of our idols whether they are made of wood, metal, plastic or people will only consume us and drive us far from your work. We give you praise for your steadfast love and mercy that shows up like a consuming fire.
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