School of Elijah

Haifa has the only major harbor in the land of Israel. The city is absolutely beautiful because it is on a neck of land that protrudes out into the Mediterranean. This peninsula is the end of a mountain range that causes the horseshoe shaped city to always have a steep climb at its back. Mount Carmel is very famous in the Scriptures and it runs parallel to the south side of the Jezreel valley and ends in the middle of Haifa. It seems unusual to find a dirt trail in the city that meanders up a hill through the trees and brush. After climbing halfway up the hill and rounding a corner you come face to face with a chiseled rock doorway. No one would ever know it was there if the trail were not so well used. This is the entry into the School of Elijah. Young men who wanted to serve God had to be trained in the Scriptures.

Upon entering the doorway there is suddenly a large rectangular room that has all the chisel marks that were made thousands of years ago. Because Elijah lived near the top of the mountain he must have climbed down the hill to teach the truth to his young prophets. The room/cave would not hold more than 50 people. It is interesting that when Elijah was called to leave this world there were fifty prophets following him to watch. 2 Kings chapter 2 records that after watching him disappear the 50 men spent three days looking for this great spiritual teacher that they loved. This man had an amazing life as a servant of God but the ungodly king and people hated him and what he represented. If God had not protected him many times he would have been killed. God protects every servant of His.

One feature of the cave is very clever. Above the door and across the exterior face of this rock cliff is a six inch gutter to collect rain water. The water runs into a holding tank (cistern) to be used when ever needed. Hard work went into chiseling this wonderful water system. Is it possible that God put His words into Elijah as a well of truth for the people to draw from as needed. One time Elijah ran away from his work and told God he was the only one on earth left alive that loved the Almighty. ( 1 Kings 19:10) Of Course, the Lord did what he usually does when one of His servants gives up. He gives them another job to do! Today when you visit this cave a Jewish person will usually greet you outside the door to welcome you to the school of Elijah. What a wonderful way to remember the work of a servant of God.