The Weather Channel is predicting snow showers today in Jerusalem. This follows snow on the ground in the Golan Heights (the border between Israel and Syria) Tuesday.
Snow in Jerusalem is rare but it occurs about as often as it does in New Orleans.
Israel reports major power outages and widespread flooding, with schools closed in the Golan. Tel Aviv, on the Mediterranean Sea, also experienced flooding. The Times of Israel called this “the wettest start to an Israel winter in 20 years (at least).”
One reason why this is so significant has to do with the severe drought Israel has experienced over the last decade. The drought and a growing population have placed severe strains on the nation’s water supply. The result has been that the Sea of Galilee at 211.72 meters below sea level is now 2.92 meters below its full level.
On our trip to Israel last April-May, the depth of the lake was quite evident. Even more evident is the Jordan River. Last year the Jordan looked more like a creek or branch than a river. Hopefully, the rain and snow will help fill up the Sea of Galilee and even help with the flow of the Jordan.
Knowing something about Israel’s weather helps us understand the Bible. Israel’s weather pattern basically has a rainy season (November-March) and a dry season (April-October). This affects how crops are grown and when harvest occurs. Farmers plant in the fall and harvest in the spring.
This is why 2 Samuel 11 begins by saying “in the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle . . .” Why did kings go out to battle in the spring of the year? For at least two reasons, both related to climate. They went out to battle at the end of the rainy season and when crops were in the field. Troops could live off the land that they conquered by harvesting the ripening grain.
The more we know about geography, climate, and history the more we understand the Word of God. The Bible is not a book of “tales” or “stories;” it is the record of real people living in a real land in real times. The history and geography fit.
This has been my testimony. As I gain more understanding of the Bible, I see that it really does have what J.B. Phillips called “the ring of truth.”
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4 Responses
I think it’s so great that I can read items about Israel and remember what it felt like to be there! At Christmas I thought about having been in Bethlehem and remembering it wasn’t what I had hoped it would be like. Then I remembered what Mahkoul told us about the Sea of Galilee being the actual sea. It wasn’t covered with a church and all the religious “stuff”. That caused me to realize that all I had to do was to look up into the starry sky to remove myself from all that distraction and I could see the sky where “there shined that holy light”. Forever blessed!
AMEN. Let Freedom Ring! The Truth allows us to be Free.
Romans 12
Blessings
Always love learning how these pieces fit together!!! It makes so much sense.
I remembered a lesson shared many month ago: Sea of Galilee 670 – 700 feet below sea level; lowest fresh water lake in the world. Second only to the Dead Sea @ about 1200 feet below sea level.
Thought your readers might be interested in this perspective. Good comments. It does make sense Romans 12: 5 – 7, 16, 18.
Blessings