A Lesson from the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea

Israel possesses two popular bodies of water: the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. Each exists in stark contrast to the other. The Sea of Galilee teems with life while the Dead Sea cannot support life. Why is this the case? And what can we learn from these two bodies of water?

Let us begin with a quick study of geography. The Jordan river flows into the northern edge of the Sea of Galilee and exits on the southern tip of the lake. The river then meanders through the Jordan Valley until it terminates in the Dead Sea which has no outlet.

As we can see, the difference between the two bodies of water is that the Sea of Galilee receives and gives water while the Dead Sea only takes. It takes in fresh water from the Jordan River, but has no outlet. Since it doesn't give of itself, all it can do is evaporate. Thus it becomes more and more salty...taking away any possibility for life.

How can we apply this contrast between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea to our lives?

‭In John‬ ‭4:14‬, Jesus speaks with the Samaritan woman at the well and reveals that he is the water of life:
"whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Jesus is the source of our life just as the Jordan River is the source of life flowing fresh water into the Sea of Galilee.

And as the living water of Jesus flows into us, we must allow that same living water to flow out of us as we read in John‬ ‭7:37‭-‬38,

"Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them."

Jesus taught throughout his earthly ministry that we are to give and not hold back. In Matthew‬ ‭5:15, he teaches ‭that we must give our light. In John‬ ‭13:34‭-‬35‬ he teaches that just as he has loved us, so we also must give our love to one another. By doing so, we glorify God as his light and love flows through us.

Just as the Sea of Galilee gives of its fresh water to feed life in the Jordan Valley, our outward flow of living water feeds the fruits of kindness, gentleness, patience, peace, compassion, and understanding.

However, when the Jordan River enters the Dead Sea, it terminates in a lifeless sea that has no outlet. Anything that does not give of itself comes to ruin as we read in Proverbs‬ ‭11:24‬,

"One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty."

Luke wrote in Acts‬ ‭20:35‬,
"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

This is so very evident with the Dead Sea. It would be more blessed if it only had an outlet to give of itself rather than hold onto water that inevitably becomes useless. If we don't give of ourselves, we will become useless. Besides giving us his love and his Spirit, God has also given each of us gifts, talents, skills and understanding...all of which he desires us to share with others. We are to be open vessels, taking in the living water of Christ and allowing it to flow back out to the world.

So let us not live like the Dead Sea which takes, but never gives. Rather, let us live like the Sea of Galilee, teeming and overflowing with life, freely sharing the living water of Christ. Let us remember our calling as the bride of Christ and declare to the world the words of Revelation‬ ‭22:17‬,

"The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes, take the free gift of the water of life."

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