Mountain of Vision

Ooops, I thought I had posted this blog before the Mount of Blessing.  So now I have to backtrack with Mt. Carmel.  Just didn’t want anyone to be confused about ‘the last mountain’…as I’m sure you’re all confused now. So on with this post.

While in Israel last year, we did get to climb Mt. Carmel.  What a magnificent view we had. From the vantage point where we stood, we could look in every direction and see for miles over the Jordan valley. Two views were the most impressive to me. The first was looking north. The picture I posted shows that view.

Can you imagine standing at the top of the mountain (which is the bottom of the picture) and looking north into the valley.  It was so easy to imagine all the people of  Israel surrounding that mount and watching the drama unfold between Elijah and the prophets of baal.
Then, our guide, Allen, started reading from I Kings 18:22-44. We all remember the event; it is the last couple of verses I want to bring out.

Elijah said to Ahab,”Go, eat  and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” vs. 41

As we all stood there, we looked to the west where the Mediterranean Sea was located. As Allen pointed out to us, you can’t see the sea. Looking west was all you see are low lying hills. Again, Allen reads,

“Go and look toward the sea, he told his servant.”

And he went up and looked. “There is nothing there, he said.” vs. 43

Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”

The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” vs. 43 – 44

Then Allen turned us away from the west and pointed us to the southwest.  It was amazing, in the distance, we saw the waves of the Mediterranean Sea crashing on the sand.  It was that view that the servant was looking  when he reported a cloud as small as a man’s hand was rising from the sea.

So, you ask, the point is?  The point is this.  God was sending the rain…we who were standing on the mount would have looked (in vain) to the west trying to see that cloud.  Our sight had to be changed to a direction we would never consider…the southwest.

As Christians, we believe that God is calling us to do something; He has a purpose for us and  with all our hearts we believe and set out to accomplish that purpose. Along the way, doors shut on us and we begin to wonder did we really hear God’s calling?  We have a vision and we head out in a logical way to follow God’s calling.  What we don’t consider is the direction God is leading…we look the logical way and God patiently waits until we’re at our wits end and then repositions us to look in His direction. Therein is the struggle.

I always go back to Psalm 37 to give me the direction I need…then rest in Him to give me the open door.

Trust in the LORD….

Delight yourself in the LORD…

Commit your way to the LORD…

Trust in Him….

God is directing our steps; He knows the direction we are to take.  As we draw near to Him…He draws near to us and leads us on the path of His calling.

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