We left Beersheba, the country of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and proceeded over a very fine new highway to the Dead Sea. On our way we passed a monument erected to the memory of the men, boys and girls who died during the building of the highway from the bullets of Arab snipers. Further along the way we passed road signs with the word “S’dom”. This was on the site we knew as the ancient city of Sodom. Strangely enough our guide never mentioned the name of Gomorrah. The highway was built through the most uninviting and desolate desert, and the heat was almost unbearable. Along the side of the highway were
groups of soldiers with military equipment, being trained in desert warfare. Continuing our descent, we at last got a glimpse of the Dead Sea, the lowest spot on earth, lying 1290 feet below sea level. The Dead Sea is about 45 miles long and 10 miles wide. The sunshine upon its ripples made it look very beautiful and after our long hot ride, very inviting, but what a disappointment, really unfit to drink or even bathe in. We walked over a stony beach and put our hands into the water to taste it. The water actually burned our tongues and the acrid sensation lasted for days. We passed by a great chemical works where the riches of the Dead Sea are processed. The potash etc. is then loaded on trucks and taken to Haifa, from where it is exported to foreign lands. The Sea was originally known as the Salt Sea, (Genesis 14, verses 2 & 3) is Zoar. All these were joined to-All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.” The Arabs however still call it “Lot’s Sea”. It was considered to be a health resort because of the hot springs that are located on its shores. (Genesis 36, verse 24 R.S.V.) ) “These are the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah ; he is the Anah who found the (hot springs—R.V.) in the wilderness, as he pastured the asses of Zibeon his father.”
The source of the river Jordan is the snow capped Mount Hermon in the northernmost part of the land. The river empties first into Lake Merom and was known long ago by the name Hasbany. (Joshua 11, verses 5-7) So Joshua came, and and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Me-rem suddenly : and they fell upon them.” After leaving Lake Merom the river is called Jordan meaning the “down corner,” because of its descent from above sea level to 1290 feet below. It next flows into Lake Galilee, pure and life giving, and from there it wends its tortuous way into the Dead Sea. On its journey it creates a very fertile valley providing crops in abundance. Can we take a lesson from this ? The Sea of Galilee, fresh, clean and pure and sending out a river bringing forth beauty and fertility on its way. But the Dead Sea with no outlet, stagnant, taking in an abundance of pure water, defiling it and giving nothing out in return.
The lesson of the two seas is quite apparent, one doing good to all men, especially unto them who are the household of faith. (Galatians 6-10) The other taking in but giving nothing, like Sardis, “I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest and art dead.” A little self examination will give the answer. Am I Galilee or the Dead Sea?
From the shore we saw great hills of salt, one in particular standing out, a large column called Lot’s Wife. Near the large refining plant we saw great mounds of sulphur, and as is well known, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha are supposed to be buried beneath this part of the Dead Sea. The abundance of sulphur is confirmed in Genesis 19:24 “Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrha brimstone (sulphur) and fire from the Lord out of heaven.” Jude says that these two cities were set forth as an example. However God’s anger does not burn forever, and so I commend for your consideration Ezekiel 16, verses 52 to 55, and Matthew 10, verse 15. I often think o g Lot how he hated to leave the city, wicked though it was. Is it not true even to-day, that we like to mix a portion of the worldly pleasures with our profession ? Lot lingered and would have been overtaken by the destruction if the Angels had not forcibly taken him away. (Genesis 19, verses 15 & 16) “And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here ; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters ; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.” Lot’s wife too was an example of disobedience, for she looked back. We have here the perfectly illustrated example in Luke 9, verse 62, Also Luke 17: 32 “And no man having put his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the Kingdom of God.”
The wealth of the Dead Sea is immeasurable, and Moses by the Spirit saw what we are seeing today. (Deuteronomy 33, verse 19) “They shall call the people unto the mountain, there shall they offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand.” I would like to emphasize the word suck, for that is exactly what the huge pumps are doing. This is another one of the remarkable signs of prophecy. As we stood on the shore of the Dead Sea a young man asked us if we were going to En Gedi. The name struck a familiar note as I had used it many times in lectures that I have given. We were almost within sight of this once large town and former health resort. This brought to mind 1 Samuel 24:1, where we read “And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi.” In 1 Samuel 23, verse 29, we learn that David dwelt at En Gedi. It so happened that close to where we were standing was a large cave, which could quite possibly have been the cave where David cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe. (1 Samuel 24:5). It was thrilling to walk where David and Saul walked, and stand in the place where they became reconciled. But what of the future of both the Dead Sea and En Gedi ?
How refreshing it is to read Ezekiel chapter 47. I will quote one verse, number 10, “And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from En Gedi even unto En-eg-la-im; they shall be a place to spread forth nets ; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.” Verses 8 to 12 of this 47th chapter of Ezekiel are well worth reading. Could it be that David’s experience with Saul in this valley prompted him to say ; “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me.” There can be no doubt that great physical changes will take place in this region, and then will be fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 40, verse 3, “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Still referring to the desert, the prophet says : “Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.” We marvelled that we were standing where all this will happen. With reluctance we left this area which contained so much history and which will still see so many changes.
It is not difficult to realize that Russia with the Egyptians subservient to them (See Daniel 11, verses 42-43) will look covetously at the riches in the waters of the Dead Sea, and it could very well be as Ezekiel prophesied in his 38th chapter, verses 11-12. It is said that the treasurers of the Dead Sea are incalculable, undoubtedly a great spoil.
On our way back to Herzlia we visited an Arab by the name of Sheik Suliman, quite a character, having 40 wives and 168 children. We were fortunate that we arrived a little late, as otherwise we would have been invited to have coffee with him. The uncleanliness and sanitation was so deplorable that we were very happy that we did not have to partake of any food and drink with him.
We spent the night in Herzlia beautifully situated on the shores of the Mediterranean. The Sharon Hotel is a fine modern building and the meals and service were equal to anything we had visited. The next morning we left for a tour of the Sharon valley. It was a beautiful drive, with olive trees in abundance, many of them hundreds of years old. The olive tree has played an important part in the bible. The first reference was a sign of hope in Genesis 8, verse 11; “And the dove came in to him in the evening ; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluck off : so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.” Noah then knew that God had saved him. And so we too, if we have been grafted into the true olive tree, are not far from the Kingdom of God. To appreciate the words of Solomon, one has to see the beauty of this valley. See the Song of Solomon 2, verse 1. “I am the rose of Sharon and the lily of the valley.” A profusion of flowers grew along the road side and in the fields. Christ was doubtless familiar with the Sharon valley, hence His reference to the lilies. Matthew 6, verses 28-29. “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow ; they toil not, neither do they spin. And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” When seeing these beauties of nature, the bible becomes literally alive, and you say to yourself “Truly God has spoken to us through His Word.”
As we travelled on to Caesarea we passed several small towns, and we were particularly impressed by a well kept seaside resort named Nathanya. This is the center of Israeli’s diamond polishing industry and brings in millions of dollars in export trade. Next we visited a well planned village known as “Hadassim,” a real home for hundreds of children. Here they are taught to love the soil of their homeland and to appreciate the wonders of their heritage. This spot was a desolate waste during the second world war and it bears eloquent testimony to what love and determination can achieve in so short a time. Hadassim means Myrtle, and was so named from Isaiah 55, verse 13. “Instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle.” It was indeed a pleasure to see these children, who despite their tragic background, were happy and well clothed. They came from the four corners of the world, and most of them knew only the life of the concentration camps. Their parents in many cases were killed or deported to other lands. There are four hundred children living in Hadissim and their training will fit them to become good citizens in their new country. It was wonderful to see what they were accomplishing in agriculture and vocational work. We were entertained by the staff at a mid-morning meal. The food was all grown in the area and was very tastefully prepared.
We shall visit Caesarea, God willing, in our next article.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One