Wednesday, August 7th, 2024.
The Bible is filled with names of places: countries, cities, regions, mountains, valleys, wells, rivers.
Since they describe places halfway across the world in a time thousands of years removed, it can be easy to get lost.
While it is tempting to skip over the names of foreign places, don’t ignore them. Knowing geography and places can help you better understand a passage.
Suppose I told you that Swayzee was like the Silicon Valley of Indiana. You would know that I am not talking about the topography of Swayzee, but its cutting-edge technology and innovation. (Then, you might have a good laugh.)
Similarly, God uses names and places and geography in Biblical prophecy. He references their historical significance, their proximity to other places, or to associate them with the audience.
Israel is called Ephraim. Jerusalem is called Sodom. Who lived in Gaza? Why is Jesus speaking of the destruction of the temple from the mount of Olives?
How are you supposed to learn about these places so far away?
- Search the Scriptures. Often the places will show up in the history books of the Bible and give you the important information about heritage and events that God refers to later.
- Get Bible maps. There are many free maps online or in the back of your Bible. This will give you their relative location and what else is around them.
- Bible dictionaries are reference tools that do not define words, but people, places, and things in the Bible. They are not infallible, but they are a good help.
These Bible places are not myth and fantasy; they are real places in the world, and they are places spoken of by the God of Geography.
As much as you can, find out where these places are located, who and what happened there, and what they are known for. You’ll enjoy the extra understanding that comes from knowing where things occur in the Bible.
From the only Swayzee in the world,
Justin “Biblical Geographer” Johnson