Sunshine, rain, and wind in Galilee

When I first looked from the hotel balcony in Tiberias this morning the sun was shining and the Sea of Galilee was calm.

The Sea of Galilee from my hotel balcony in Tiberias. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Later in the day, by early afternoon we were on the eastern side of the lake. The weather was cool and the wind from the west was rather strong. We stopped a few places along the shore to make photos. In the photo below you can see the small waves on the sea. In the distance, to the northwest, you will note that the sun is shining on the hills. While this may not qualify as a violent storm it demonstrates the sudden change that can take place when the wind comes down on the sea.

One day Jesus got into a boat with his disciples and said to them, “Let’s go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. Now a violent windstorm came down on the lake, and the boat started filling up with water, and they were in danger. They came and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are about to die!” So he got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they died down, and it was calm.
(Luke 8:22-24 NET)

A stormy Sea of Galilee looking West. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

A little earlier we visited the suggested site of New Testament Bethsaida and Old Testament Geshur. While in the vicinity we went to the Jordan River in the Jordan River Park. This park is probably less than 2 miles north of the Sea of Galilee. The water was muddy and running swift because of the rains over the past few days in the north.

Jordan River at Jordan River Park, N of Sea of Galilee. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

We circled the Sea of Galilee, went to En Gev, drove up into the Golan Heights past Susita (Greek Hippos), visited the Peace Vista for a view of the entire lake, and then down along the Yarmuk Valley, and back to Tiberias. Later in the day we went to Mount Arbel.

A profitable day, I think.