Week 2… The Sea and the Carmel Mountains

In case you are just catching up with us, this summer we are spending time reflecting on the Land as we make preparations for our study tour of Israel coming up in February. These weekly pieces are not intended only for those planning to do the trip but for everyone. There is so much we can learn about the Bible by setting it within the geographical context of the land. Have your atlas or maps at hand!

Last week, our focus was on the importance of the Land. Land was more than real estate or ground, it was a sign of God fulfilling ancient promises; a tangible sign of God's being bonded with his people. Hence possession of the land came to be understood as conditional on the keeping of a right relationship with God. This idea permeates many of the "historical" books we read in the Bible. When the kingdom of Israel and later, Judah are overtaken by the Assyrians and the Babylonians respectively, the biblical writer explains that this is a result of their disloyalty to their Covenant with God. For sure this is a theological explanation given to a more complex political and military reality. We should know how our ancestors who wrote these words thought and believed lest we too conclude that when bad things happen, it is God punishing us for our failures.

The Land is the place where the plan and purpose of God is unfolded for Israel and for us in the pages of the Old Testament. We set our footsteps to walk this land where the faith of our ancestors was first formed, fragile as it was. Most astounding, I think, is that this survives and embraces us who today recognize our roots in Judaism. Today when we set foot onto this land, our hearts are inspired and this is more important than whether we can touch the stones on which Elijah or Moses or David or Jeremiah or Jesus walked. The traditions and the word of God lives because we have taken them into ourselves, studied them, own them and hand them on to others. Seeing the land can be a short-lived high unless we own the Bible before we set out. This is the advantage of being a student of the Bible even if one is never able to visit the land!

We depart on Feb 23…arriving in Tel Aviv on Feb 24. A short ride to the City of Netanya on the Mediterranean will allow us a night to straighten our bodies after the long plane ride and get a good sleep. We will consider 2 special geographical places: the Mediterranean and the Carmel Mountains. We will spend a fair amount of this first day touring along the coast and driving through the mountains. The Mediterranean or as the Bible calls it "The Great Sea" was a formidable boundary. As in the account of creation, the Sea represented chaos, the place of the sea monsters. Only once during the time of Solomon does Israel make mention of a navy. Then it was based at Ezion Geber (present day Eilat). South of Tel Aviv on the Mediterranean is the city of Joppa where Jonah set off on his effort to escape God's mission to him of speaking God's forgiveness to the hated Ninevites. Jonah had a better idea, go the other way, out to sea! The sea and all its terror and threat becomes the backdrop for this tale…which is so much more than a fish tale!

On Feb 25th when we actually begin touring, we will spend a bit of time on this seacoast North of Tel Aviv. We will first visit Caesarea Maritima (not to be confused with Caesarea Philippi which we will discuss in a future reflection). This port city was built by Herod the Great and expanded to become a very large and important city as is evidenced by the architectural remains there. If you would like to view some pictures, see on our website a photo gallery of slides from our '08 trip.

Caesarea figures into the story of 2 prominent NT personages: Peter and Paul. Peter was summoned by Cornelius, a Roman Centurion stationed at Caesarea, who, along with his entire household, are baptized by Peter. (Acts Ch 10). Later, Paul will be imprisoned there for over 2 years and eventually appeal to Festus, the Governor and to King Agrippa, and be sent to Rome ( See Acts Ch 21-26,Long version; Ch 24-26, short version).

As we drive along the coastal plains, the Plains of Sharon, we head North toward the Carmel Mountains, a ridge of mountains that stretch inland from the coast at Haifa. With good reason the name means 'vineyard' or 'fruit garden'. This region receives adequate rainfall to insure lush growth. In the Song of Songs, the beauty of these mountains is extolled. In the prophetic writings they represent might and strength. This area is where the Prophet Elijah spent time and the colorful accounts in 1 Kings 17 -18 take place here. From the Monastery at Mukrakah, a location in these mountains, we can take in a wonderful view of the Plains of Esdraelon (Jezreel Valley). Perhaps we can better understand why the fertility rites of the Canaanite religion were so tempting to the Israelites! Many battles were fought for control over this rich land and for control of the Via Maris (the Way of the Sea), the important trade route linking Egypt with Mesopotamia that passes through this area (Judges 5-6 the account of Deborah the Judge). From this vantage point atop the monastery roof, a high point on the Carmel Mountains, we will orient ourselves for our touring through the Galilee.

The Northern Kingdom (922 - 721), was conquered by the Assyrians who scattered the people of the 10 Tribes of Israel and resettled foreigners in the region (this is the origin of the "Samaritans"). Judah, the Southern Kingdom (1000- 587) was destroyed and exiled by the Babylonians. In the New Testament era, the old Northern Kingdom became the district of Galilee and Samaria. The Southern Kingdom of Judah became Judea. The first several days of our tour will find us in the region of the Galilee, an area of great significance as it figures so prominently in the life and early ministry of Jesus. Knowing its past history and the geography will shed light on the written word. The Land has often been called "the Fifth Gospel". If you understand the land, so much of the Gospel comes to light.

We will pick up here in our next installment…but this is a good place to stay for the week: strolling the sea coast and wandering among the Carmel Mountains taking in the rich past.

The "sea" is an image of chaos often in the Bible. See Genesis 1, Ps 29, Job 38, Matt 8:23-27. Who is it who governs the chaos?
In light of this, think about Jonah!
1 Kings 17: 17 Ahab addresses Elijah "You disturber of Israel"…does he deserve that title? You will have to read some of the accounts to decide.
The prophet in the Bible is a "disturber". Is Jesus also such a one?
How do mountains figure into the biblical story? What happens there? See 1 Kings 19. What event is being recalled? How is this account different?