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Lesson OneWhat Is Geography?3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson TwoWhy Is There Geography in My Bible?3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson ThreeNow What?3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson FourHow Can I Grow My Geographical Literacy?3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson FiveThe Fertile Crescent and the Promised Land3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson SixKey Geographical Characteristics of the Promised Land3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson SevenTraveling the Promised Land3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson EightRoutes in and through the Promised Land3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson NineWater Realities of the Promised Land3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson TenWeather of the Promised Land3 Activities1 Assessment
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Course Wrap-UpCourse Completion1 Activity1 Assessment
Participants 269
Discussion Questions
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Why do you think geography has been given so little attention by Bible readers?
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Because people are unfamiliar with the place where he used to go and play.
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I think there could be several reasons. 1. I often read Scripture looking for the “meaning/message” for me personally… how does this passage apply to my life right now? As such, I may overlook the geography in search of the “lesson” or take-away. 2. I was born and raised in Virginia, but spent one year of my adult life in the southwest desert of California – a shocking geographical change! Only then did I truly understand Biblical references to “a dry an thirsty land!” So, I think point of reference impacts our real understanding and application of Biblical geography. 3. Growing up in church, I remember my Bibles having maps in the back portion of the book. I truly never recall the pastor referring to the maps or using them in any way in lessons or sermons, so they were more of a curiosity to me rather than a focal point.
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People tend to be very egocentric. We just assume that our understanding applies universally, so we don’t think about how to analyze it in a different context or from a different perspective. People tend to also underestimate how geography has shaped the evolution of civilizations over time, so they do not assign enough importance to it.
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Mostly when we think of geography, it is something we learned in school. We do not see that subject in the Bible. It all has to do with WHAT we were taught growing up.
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We often do not realize the significance of the geographical place that an event happened and may not have the tools or resources to study about the meaning in depth. Also, we read for the spiritual teachings of the Bible and may think that the physical landscape, and natural history of a region that is far removed from our home country is less important somehow.
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Give an example from the Bible, other than the ones we have used in this lesson, that demonstrates the biblical authors use geography when communicating the thoughts of God to us.
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John’s letters to the 7 churches in Revelation 1-3: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.
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But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them Matt 13:29.
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When the people came to the Red Sea, or the Jordan River in exodus, then in Joshua. How about going to Samaria, or to Sychar, or Shechem. What about the Mount of Transfiguration. There are so many, and we’ve read the stories, but tying.the geography and the lay of the land will help us to understand many points in the Bible.
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Abraham pitched his tents near the great trees of Mamre. It is where God spoke with him before he sent two angels into Sodom. Abraham could see dense smoke from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah from where his tents were.
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The multiple events in the great story of Moses, including the Parting of the Red Sea.
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Give two examples of physical geography, two examples of human geography, and two examples of natural history associated with the place you live.
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Here in our are of central Virginia, USA, we live on the east side of the Blue Ridge mountains, in rolling foothills. Our 2 acres of property contains deciduous and evergreen trees and plants, we have 3 little ponds with fish, and lots of God’s creatures visit us and get fed!
Our little house sits on the property surrounded by trees, and we have 2 outbuildings as well, snugged between the trees. I have created brush piles of branches and leaves around the property for small creatures like birds, moles, voles and others to hide in during the night/bad weather/hide from predators. Not far from us is a manmade lake, and a large river. -
There are snow covered trees & frozen lakes & snow prairies where I live. In winter, I can fish after cutting a hole in the ice and I need to dress very warm to go outside. We can see squirrels scurrying to find the food they hid and we do not need to battle mosquitos!
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Physical Geography: I am living in Singapore near the Pasir Ris where the landscape is a beach and with a view of Pulao Ubin Island not far from the shore.
Human Geography: In Singapore, we produce vegetable products through hydroponics in car parks. We also recycle sewage water via sewage water treatment plant.
Natural History: Singapore is a Garden City and Forest City. It’s normal in Singapore to see monkeys under your flat, birds coming inside the kitchen monitor lizard along the pathway, etc. -
Physical geography – flat lands, river valley
Human geography – large city, wheat fields
Natural history – tree lined streets, Canada geese -
Two examples of Physical Geography: Caribbean Sea & Blue Mountain
Human Geography: Building (Concrete or Board Houses ) and Burying Dead ( sepulcher, vault or mausoleum); wake and prayer meeting
Natural Geography: humming bird and lignum vitae