Actually, I live in Texas, so it is somewhat similar. We really only have two seasons, summer and winter as well. We receive more moisture during the winter months and the summer months are extremely hot.

The beginning of the rainfall cycle is also the beginning of the cycle of grain agriculture in ancient Israel. When water is being collected and stored, fields and being plowed and planted.

Job is referring to the frontal winds, and is indicating that the talk from that person is violent and intense.

The wind described in this story is coming from the Mediterranean Sea and is in the form of a storm called a medicane. The text of the Scripture calls it a Noreaster, and is a wind that came across the island. It is of typhoon strength. It plays a major role in this story because it is what eventually causes the ship and those aboard to…

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The Nile is a year-round water source. Ancient Israelites had to depend on rain and seasons to irrigate the crops.

They really don’t even compare. Ancient Israelites thought about water all the time. I rarely think about where my water is coming from, because it is always readily available, unless there is a storm or power outage of some sort.

The well is filtered water; the cistern is not. The well is excavated to the water table. The cistern is created at ground level to capture runoff water. The advantage of the cistern is you have more options in term of location, but yearly maintenance is required.

I have used a variety of devotional methods. I have read devotionals in magazines, books, and my Bible. I have studied the Bible topically, and written notes. I have also studied books, and passages of Scripture. Writing really helps me when I am having a study/devotional time. I feel like I interact more with the Word when I write.

The “so what” is important because it gives the listeners the tool of how to take what you are speaking about and apply it to their lives. So, if God is good, and He is our refuge, how does this apply to me in the here and now, or in the future?

Visualization is a way of giving people a scenario in which what you are speaking about may help them in future situations, or even in a current situation, since the Holy Spirit is working while ministers in the Body of Christ speak.

We know that our needs are met and we can trust Him to take care of us.

The land is as much a character in the Biblical narrative as the people themselves.

I am in a time of transition, moving from one phase of ministry to another I think. I am just not sure what the other is, outside of my home. I am also currently experiencing some health challenges, which probably need my attention and focus.

I think the Biblical principle I am being challenged with at the moment is to let go of trying to control financial outcomes and just trust God to meet all our needs, both now and in the future.

I am in the middle age season of life with teens and pre-teens.

I feel the tension of family and ministry, and not knowing exactly what I should be doing in this moment. I have an inkling, but it is hard for me to let go.

I think I have in the past viewed it as a tightrope, but I love the vision/interpretation as viewing it as a canyon. That makes things so much easier, and brings a lot of peace.

I feel like I am in a complete season of reorientation right now. I have spent many years writing, and would love to go back to that, but am not sure I am supposed to. I feel like I have been in transition for a while. Right now, I feel as though I have to submit to the circumstances of my life, and just be involved in my local church in areas where I fit.

It has been a combo of things. I have heard an audible voice. I have had a friend speak into my life. I have paid attention to my gifts and experiences, my duty, and have paid attention to closed doors.

I am not exactly sure. What I am doing right now is just spending some time learning by taking these classes on Our Daily Bread University and doing Bible studies. I am also taking care of my family. The rest is just waiting to see what is next.

Because Megiddo is located on a land bridge between the Mediterranean sea and the Arabian desert.

There are a lot of references to water in the Old Testament. Moses parted the Red Sea and that was a significant water story. We hear about the origination of water in the Garden of Eden. Moses was drawn out of the water of the Nile by Pharoah’s daughter. Jacob built a well in Shechem. And then, pertaining to this lesson, water from a stream… Read more

The roads in the Promised Land generally ran from north to south or east to west. In the United States, the interstate system runs much of the same way. There are road that travel from east to west and roads that travel from north to south.

Depending on where you live, will determine what kind of road improvements are necessary. For instance, if you live in the mountains, you might have to be concerned about rocks falling on the road, much like the Israelites had to be concerned. But generally speaking, here in the United States, we have to be concerned mainly with the road… Read more

Well, I would usually choose the direct route, or the one that was the fastest, so that could be like their route choice to choose the direct route. I wouldn’t completely choose the route based on risk avoidance unless I was forced to go through a rough neighborhood, so I guess I would be unlike them in that way.

It was a natural transportation route, and the soil was rich and fertile.

Yes! It is very important to identify locations in the world that are associated with the life of Jesus. Because it is part of our story as Believers. We need to tell His story, so we can remember and remind ourselves that this is real. and all of what the Lord has done for us. It reminds us of God’s plan from the beginning and how HE fulfilled… Read more

I have felt threatened when trying to find a place to stay in an area that I am unfamiliar with. I imagine that would be somewhat similar to the experience Mary and Joseph had when they were trying to find somewhere to stay in Bethlehem around the time of the birth of Jesus.

I differ the most in the fact that I don’t travel by walking, nor by animal. I think we differ in the least by risks, because there are still some risks when you travel, depending upon how you travel and where.

Walking was a very convenient way of getting from one place to another. They had no animals to care for and no equipment to maintain.

The phrase milk and honey are defined by what the land of Israel produces. In the north, rainfall is abundant, which makes foliage more plentiful, and in turn there are bees that produce honey. In the southern part of Israel, land is used more for the pasturing of animals, so there would be goats to provide milk.

I live in the United States, so we have about 40 times the amount of water availability that Israel has.

I live in Texas, so it is about 100 times the size of Israel in square miles.

The Coastal Plain is above sea level and it is a place that is flat,fertile, and travels easily. The Central Mountain Zone is well above sea level at a max of 3000 ft above sea level. It makes it a secure place to be, but it less productive agriculturally and difficult to travel here. The Jordan Rift Valley is below sea level, even at… Read more

The Great Commission is to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. Everyone need to know that the Lord was crucified for their sins, and raised to new life for them as well. They need to know that they can be born again and be resurrected unto new life when they leave this one.

It is easy to identify why He chose it for the Great Commission, because of the view. Maybe He chose it to deliver the Sermon the Mount because He knew it would be the site of the Great Commission and He wanted to connect the two.

No, I have not considered that before. It makes me want to go back and read the accounts of the Sermon on the Mount and the Great Commission together. I love that Jesus used the landscape when He spoke those final words to his disciples.

It reveals to us that they had been worshipping other gods beside the one true God of Israel.

I had not considered the location at which Jesus asked His disciples this question. In light of the geography, the question seems like it might have made more of an impact to the listeners , being in that location. I am learning how significant all the geography is during Jesus’ ministry.

I think that the one facilitated the other, eventually. Jesus healed the man with the demons. At first, they wanted him to leave their region. But, I believe after they heard the testimony of the man with the demons, how Jesus had done great things for him, they were prepared to receive Him. I had never seen that before, until I heard this… Read more

Because Jesus came for everyone. Everyone needs to hear the message of the Gospel. He went to heal the man who had the demons, because that is what Jesus did. He is/was the healer.

I need to look at the Scriptures to see which occurred first. I find it interesting that the people of the Decapolis asked Jesus to leave after he healed the man with the demons. So Jesus sent his missionary back into the city to go where they wouldn’t let him at the moment. Maybe if that story occurs before the feeding of the 4000, that man… Read more

I love the way God does this, connecting the stories of the Old Testament, pictures of Jesus, to Jesus Himself. Jesus is referred to repeatedly as the Son of David in the New Testament. That, combined with the story about Solomon, makes this event, and the phrase Son of David, much more impactful.

I love this sentiment. It is very encouraging and comforting to me as a Believer to know that Jesus is MY King and that he is doing these things for me.

I don’t think I have previously reflected on the connection between these two stories, but I am glad to know about it now. I believe Elisha is a picture of Jesus, and when Jesus came He confirmed who He was by His actions.