Living in Israel in the month of July makes one keenly aware of the need for water. The temperature ranges from 85 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (or worse in the desert), and it’s crucial to “keep hydrated,” so we’ve been drinking lots of water. On the other hand, this area is in the midst of a bad two-year drought. (There would be no rain anyway in the summer, but they haven’t received much rain in their winter rainy season either.) We’ve been consciously using less water, seeking creative ways to conserve. One sign of the drought is the low level of the Sea of Galilee as well as the Jordan River and the Dead Sea. Another reason for the lower water levels there is the amount of water diverted from the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River for irrigation and to supply Israel with water.
The importance of water in the Holy Land is nothing new. As we’ve traveled to various archaeological sites, the guides always point out the sources of water for these places — from Roman aqueducts to springs to cisterns for collecting rain water. Often there are tunnels to crawl through to show where and how the people got their water. One of the most famous examples is the tunnel of King Hezekiah — for defensive purposes he dug a tunnel to channel water from the Kidron Valley to the neighboring valley which was inside the walls of the City of Jerusalem, thus safe for people to use for water even when besieged. (Check it out in 2 Chronicles 32.)
One reason this is important now, some people suggest, is that the next war in this region may be fought over water. There have apparently been some significant peace negotiations between Syria and Israel, but I would have some serious doubts about how hopeful to be about their success. Why? Because the Golan Heights that Israel occupied on the north and east sides of the Sea of Galilee control much water that I doubt that Israel would want to give up.
Of course, we have similar issues in the United States. The Colorado River doesn’t have much water left when it finally reaches Mexico. Consider also our Midwestern reluctance to allow other areas of the country to have access to the water of the Great Lakes.
