Discussion Questions
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Why do you think geography has been given so little attention by Bible readers?
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The community of believer has missed the interaction between geography and the stories that took place in the Bible in favor of the application of the stories and not how the geography enhances and sets the stage for the stories. What richness of the Bible we miss when we do this.
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I don’t think we realize how much it can add to our understanding of the Bible and the deeper meaning it can give.
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Because we are never taught about the geography of the Bible and it takes longer to study if you have to dig out the geography. But you might be missing a lot of the meaning if you do not know the geography just like with the scratch plow. Because of how it is made, if you hit a rock you can break the plow and your planting season is over so you do not dare look Back
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1) We are biased by where, current events, and the current thought preference of process, so we assume everything with our perspective,
2) We tend to like action and not having time to look at the environment, digging in in to the history of the place, and thinking about what shapes the people of the land,
3) We have not visited Israel,
4) Not too many teachers talk about it…
5) and like how this question is rightfully framing it…it is the last thing on our priority list (if we have one). -
So many teachers/preachers/laymen have missed the interaction between geography and the stories that took place in the geography in favor of the application of the stories
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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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Ps144:5 Bow down Your heavens, O Lord and come down Touch the mountains….
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I chose the Healing at Bethesda.
Physical Geography – John 5:2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes.Natural Forces – John 5:4 For an angel of the Lord went down at a certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease he was afflicted.
Human Geography – John 5:7 The sick man answered Him, Sir, I have no man, to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.
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Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall posper.
Psalm 1:1-3 -
In Matthew 16:1-3, the Bible states:
The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. -
When People in the Bible went to Jerusalem, it is often recorded as “going up” to Jerusalem. The reality is that Jerusalem is on a hilltop but the idea also seems to imply that a person was “up” to worship God seemly as an elevated spiritual position.
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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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