IS this Galilee of the Nations, where most of His mighty works were done? Was this “His own country?” Really, no other place in the world could be so appropriately the place, but where are Capernaum, Bethsaida, and Chorazin? Men locate approximately the sites of those Galilean towns, but besides the sites, only a few stones may be seen. To-day, apart from an Arab village at its southern end, the only town situated beside the lake is Tiberias, and it is not mentioned in the Gospels. The Caravan route, known to Bible readers as the Way of the Sea, and the entrance to which is by the lake shore near Magdala, is no longer in use except by nomads and as an interesting sight for visitors to gaze at and think about. This was the highway of the nations, which invading armies and traders and travellers of all kinds used. By this way came, among others, the armies of Shalmaneser, Sennacherib, and Nebuchadnezzar. The last military party to use it was a detachment of Allenby’s army. Will it be used again by armed men? Will it be traversed by hosts on their way to the Plain of Megiddo—Armageddon:
The lake itself has unfailing charm. Although only a lake, thirteen miles long by seven across at its broadest part, yet it resembles the sea in various ways. When the hills of Golan are enshrouded by mist, and only water is visible to those on the western shore, one feels fully justified in using the term “Sea of Galilee.” When a sudden storm arises the Chinnereth is no longer “a sweet little lake,” but an angry sea, and at such a time the statement “there was no more sea” is a forceful one. Sometime the lake is smooth like polished glass, and when the sky is red in the evening, the mirror-like surface of the water with the ruddy reflections, reminds one of the statement in the Apocalypse, “I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire.”
When one to whom Jesus is precious walks by the side of the lake, not with a party of tourists or natives, but quietly and undisturbed, he tries to picture mentally scenes recorded in the Gospels. And oh, he may ruminate, why do not the people by this lovely lake take warning from the judgments already sent by the Lord upon rejectors of the proffered mercy? What a heaven on earth it would be if poor repentant sinners, Jews and Gentiles, met together beside His lake to seek and find Him, and to commemorate His dying love! Between the site of Bethsaida and that of Capernaum there is a little bay which probably was the place where our Lord entered into Peter’s boat and taught the people, the boat having been thrust out a little from the land. Around the bay is a natural amphitheatre from which crowds could hear distinctly a preacher in a boat or on the shore. In the Highlands of Scotland there are favourite spots for Communion gatherings, but surely none anywhere just like this. Oh “for a feast of fat things” beside those waves! Surely WE would not reject the Saviour if we saw Him as the people of Galilee did? Surely the One who became a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief would not be to us as a root out of a dry ground? Alas! fallen human nature is always the same while unrenewed and unenlightened by the power of the Holy Spirit. Those of us who refuse the risen and glorified God-man, Christ Jesus, who is waiting to be gracious, are no better than those who hardened their hearts against Him when in His state of humiliation. But if we truly look for Him, He still says to us—”I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice.”
Let us go for an outing by Galilee’s Lake. It is springtime and the former rains are past, the country is carpeted with rich herbage and all nature rejoices together. We will not go down to the road by the shore, but walk on the hillsides, striking northwards from Tiberias. We walk joyfully amongst God’s generous gifts, wondering at the extraordinary luxuriance, for it seems as if only yesterday everything was dried up by the heat of a summer’s sun. How numerous are the flowers, and what a variety of them there are, both as to species and colour. The anemones alone are to be seen in crimson, pink, blue, purple, yellow and white. And who can distinguish the notes of the different feathered songsters? Truly “the winter is past, the flowers appear on the earth, and the time of the singing of birds is come.” We now suddenly remember that before long all this luxuriant beauty of vegetation will be scorched by the sun and our senses will not then be delighted as they are now. Yes, but let us be of good cheer, next year spring will come again, whoever lives to see it; and the times of refreshing come to believers just as surely as spring returns to Galilee. Let us sit down on this bank, for it is warm, and we must look at our surroundings. We first look northwards and our eyes rest on the majestic snow-capped mass of Hermon, and we think of the words—”The north and the south, Thou hast created them, Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in Thy name.” Then we gaze at Tel Hum, the site of Capernaum, and the other places of interest at the north end of the lake. We then scan the eastern shore. There is the place where the swine must have run violently down to their death in the waters, and further south is the site of Aphek. We turn our gaze northwards again, and once more feel solemnised as we look at the place where the Sermon on the Mount must have been preached, and the vicinity in which we believe the five thousand to have been miraculously fed. But, hark! what singing do we hear? See, there are young Jews in those boats out on the lake. Surely that is Hebrew they are singing? Yes, they are fervently singing Ha-tikvah, the Hebrew National Anthem. Presently another Jewish group, swinging along the shore road, commences singing gaily a modern Hebrew song. As we sit on the Galilee hill-side a feeling of sadness and yearning comes over us, and we regret that they are not singing Hebrew Psalms—songs of Zion. Ah, these are the seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. More, they are the kinsmen of Jesus according to the flesh, and they are blind to God’s love made manifest. But we must not tarry here on the slope. Up! Let us pray and work for their enlightenment. “O house of Jacob! Come and let us walk in the light of the Lord.”
A Divided Heart.
‘Tis a most awful thing to have a divided heart. Had we ten thousand hearts to give, they would be less than the excellent Majesty deserves. Take care of a divided heart; keep up a sharp and perpetual contest. I am God’s by creation, by preservation, by redemption, and sanctification. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart and soul, and strength.” Paul says—”I pray God, your whole body, soul and spirit” (what have we else?) “may be preserved blameless.” Touch not the devil’s work.—Rowland Hill.