Discussion Questions
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Why do you think geography has been given so little attention by Bible readers?
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It is not stressed by the modern church.
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I have been fortunate to have had several Bible teachers who have recognized the importance of geography to understanding scripture. I’m excited to learn more about how geography has impacted the lives of those I read about each day in scripture.
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I think when most people first read the bible, myself included, we are not trained to focus on the context of the texts initially. Instead, most of our attention are brought to who said what to bring a point across.
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I think that sometimes it just gets over looked and unless someone may need to include it or think in terms of how valuable and necessary geography is to pay attention to, it can easily be treated as an assumption or like it doesn’t factor in when in reality it does for sure. It should actually more often than not be in our thinking as well.
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It requires work, an in-depth study. Many have not gone that far in their knowledge of the Bible.
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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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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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Physical geography: to understand the significance of God parting the Red Sea, to understand about the cedars of Lebanon that were required to restore the City gates of Jerusalem, to understand the places that were important in the life of Christ during passion week. To understand when the disciples set across the lake, when Jesus walked on the water to them- the distances that they had to row. To understand the mission journeys of Paul that the distances he traveled … and so many more.
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Physical geography: 1 Samuel 23:26, “Saul was going along one side of the mountain, and David and his men were on the other side, hurrying to get away from Saul.” This was the geography of the terrain at En Gedi.
Human geography: Matthew 3:12, “His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Natural history: Proverbs 30:26, “hyraxes (rock badgers) are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags.”
#Geography -
For physical geography, we see the storms coming over the disciples when they were in the boat in the Sea of Galilee. For human geography, we can trace the journey that Abraham took to move from Haran to Canaan. For natural history, David illustrate his thirst for God like the deer panting for water in Psalm 42.
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good examples. 🙂
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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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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 -
I live in the suburban area of St. Louis, Missouri. Physical geography: we have a lot of trees, we have the Meramec River nearby that has and can flood in torrential rain periods.
Human Geography: There are a number of individual farms that grow fruits and raise animals for meat. We have the option of contacting these farms to buy directly, however I am lazy and buy at the local Fresh Thyme store. Individual homesteads have their own hens to lay eggs. I buy some from a friend who has hens.
Natural History: We have beautiful flowering fruit trees, in the spring you can see the daffodils coming out early. We have lots of wooded areas with wildlife such as deer, squirrels, rabbits, bobcats, owls, and hawks to name a few. -
Physical Geography in TN includes tree lined hills and snaking rivers.
Human geography in the Nashville area include bridges spanning large areas, and wealthy homes in desirable hill country with perfect views.
Natural History encompasses loud finches that song well before the sun comes up, and deer which are a regular hazard and nuisance for humans, but their natural habitat has been invaded.