BUILDING ON THE ROCK
Sunday 4th
I have just turned on the TV to learned that this morning a parking building under construction in Tel Aviv has collapsed, killing 2 and injuring 24. Five other workers are still missing under the collapsed building. Rescuers are currently trying to find them, in spite of the risk of further collapse. A gag-order has been imposed on the press concerning the cause of the collapse, which is still under investigation. In the absence of real information there is a lot of speculation as to the cause, but it seems likely that there is some degree of negligence involved.
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| Building collapse in Tel Aviv http://www.mcclatchy-wires.com/wire_photos/rupbqv/picture100033757/ALTERNATES/FREE_640/852Mideast%20Israel%20Building%20Collapse.JPEG |
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| An injured person being rescued from the building. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1727861/at-least-three-killed-and-dozens-feared-dead-after-building-collapses-in-israeli-city-of-tel-aviv/
This tragedy brought to mind the issue of Israel's preparedness, or lack of preparedness, for a major earthquake. Following the recent earthquake in Italy, once more the issue was raised in the Press. Israel lies on the West African Rift, which stretches from Africa to Syria, and is therefore prone to earthquake activity. Ancient ruins around the country show plenty of evidence of massive damage due to earthquakes in the past, and there are a number of earthquakes mentioned in the Bible (for example: Amos 1:1, Zechariah 14:5). However because there have not been any significant earthquakes in the last hundred years or so, public consciousness of the risk is low. Many of the buildings built in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were built from unreinforced concrete block or stone, and are therefore at great risk of collapse in an earthquake. Since the 1980s buildings have been required to meet strict standards but it is estimated that as many as 99% of buildings built before 1980 are unsafe. Eleven years ago, a bill, called the Tama 38 bill, was passed requiring the fortification of substandard buildings but so far less than 1% of those buildings have actually been renovated. A Government Steering Committee has estimated that if an earthquake 7.5 on the Richter Scale, centered around Beit Shean, were to occur, some 16,000 could be expected to die, and 6,000 seriously injured, 10,000 buildings completely destroyed and some 377,000 people would be left homeless. This is a pretty frightening scenario. Every time there is an earthquake in the region, we hear such predictions, and the issue briefly stirs up the Press and our awareness, but pretty quickly these concerns are buried under other issues that seem more urgent, and nothing much gets done.
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In addition to substandard buildings, much of the population of Israel lives along the coastal plain and those cities are built on sand, which may be prone to liquefaction in an earthquake. Furthermore Tel Aviv and other coastal cities are very low lying and could be seriously affected by a tsunami. Herod's great port at Caesarea, just 30 km north of Tel Aviv, was most probably destroyed by a tsunami in AD 115. http://geology.gsapubs.org/content/34/12/1061.abstract
Yeshua spoke of the wisdom of building one's house on the rock. Of course he was speaking metaphorically and drawing a spiritual parallel, but the point remains.
Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
Matthew 7:24-27
Sunday 11th September
A week has passed and yesterday the last body was pulled from the rubble of the collapsed parking building, bringing the death toll to 6. The search and rescue teams worked 24 hours a day and it took them seven days to extract the last of the missing. Imagine if we faced a disaster of a greater scale, whether an earthquake or a massive missile attack. Search and rescue resources would be overwhelmed and many would die a slow and horrible death buried under collapsed buildings. It doesn't bear thinking about.
Please pray for our courageous men and women who every day selflessly put their own lives at risk to protect us, the soldiers, the border police, the police, ambulance workers, search and rescue teams etc. I am constantly amazed by their dedication and courage. We watched tens of rescuers this week entering into the still shaky remains of the parking building. How frightening it must have been, knowing that any moment there could be another collapse burying them. Yet they did it. Thank God that a further collapse did not occur and all the rescue workers and their search dogs made it out safely.
All these things are a reminder of how totally we must depend on God. He is our protector and our savior. There is no way any government nor human organization can protect us adequately from all the potential threats, whether natural or man made.
On another topic altogether, I just read how an island has appeared in the southern part of the Sea of Galilee, more evidence of its drastic reductions in level. Summer is drawing to a close and our thoughts are now turning in anticipation to the winter rains. Authorities are however very concerned by the ongoing drought. In the last few years the pattern of rainfall in Israel has changed with more rain falling in the south and the north receiving much less. As of today the water level in the Sea of Galilee is -213.42 m, which is some 0.42 of a meter below the bottom red line at which ecological damage begins to occur. The level is currently dropping at a rate of 6cm per day. http://forecast.israelinfo.co.il/kineret . If the level is too low the pressure on the bottom is reduced and this could allow salt water infiltration into the fresh water lake. There are some 20 different species of fish in the Sea of Galilee, many of which are found no where else in the world. It also supports a rich array of other species such as turtles, frogs and birds. It is also still Israel's main source of drinking water. Receding water levels create other dangers too. This week a number of unexploded shells were found on a beach. A police spokesman says they are thought to have been abandoned by Turkish soldiers as they fled oncoming British forces during WWI. Just two weeks ago a number of mortar shells were also uncovered. One wonders how much more unexploded ordnance might lie just under the water.
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| An Israeli police handout photograph shows what a police spokesperson says are World War One artillery shells discovered in the Sea of Galilee in Tiberias, Israel, made avaliable by Israeli police on September 6, 2016. Israeli Police Spokesperson/Handout via Reuters http://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-shells-idUSKCN11C1LH?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FworldNews+%28Reuters+World+News%29 |
The Israeli Water Authority's Hydrological Services, in 2013, predicted that Israel will face a long and difficult drought from 2015-2035, which will be even more severe than the previous two drought periods. http://www.jpost.com/Enviro-Tech/Water-Authority-Severe-drought-from-2015-2035-312310
According to Israel Today, the deputy head of the Kinneret Authority told Israel’s Ynet news portal that “everyone needs to pray for a rainy winter.” Indeed the water authority is predicting below average rainfall in the coming months.
Prophecies indicate that there will be a great drought in the region immediately prior to the coming of the Messiah. For example, the prophet Nahum, predicted that
The Lord has His way
In the whirlwind and in the storm,
And the clouds are the dust of His feet.
4 He rebukes the sea and makes it dry,
And dries up all the rivers.
Bashan and Carmel wither,
And the flower of Lebanon wilts.
In the whirlwind and in the storm,
And the clouds are the dust of His feet.
4 He rebukes the sea and makes it dry,
And dries up all the rivers.
Bashan and Carmel wither,
And the flower of Lebanon wilts.
Nahum 1: 3-4
Some are saying that the current drought is the beginning of this great drought. Time will tell if they are right or not.
Prophecies relating to the end times also say that when the Messiah returns the Mount of Olives will split apart creating two rivers, one flowing into the Dead Sea and the other into the Mediterranean.
And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives,
Which faces Jerusalem on the east.
And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two,
From east to west,
Making a very large valley;
Half of the mountain shall move toward the north
And half of it toward the south....
Which faces Jerusalem on the east.
And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two,
From east to west,
Making a very large valley;
Half of the mountain shall move toward the north
And half of it toward the south....
And in that day it shall be
That living waters shall flow from Jerusalem,
Half of them toward the eastern sea
And half of them toward the western sea;
In both summer and winter it shall occur.
That living waters shall flow from Jerusalem,
Half of them toward the eastern sea
And half of them toward the western sea;
In both summer and winter it shall occur.
Zechariah 14: 4, 8
Geologically speaking such a phenomenon is entirely possible. Geologists tell us that a fault line divides the Mount of Olives from East to West, and we all know there are vast underground water reserves beneath our feet. Yesterday I visited the Soreq Stalactite Caves which are about a half hour drive from here. Once again I was astounded by the amount of water trickling down the stalactites and lying in pools, even at the end of a dry summer. The Judean Mountains are made of limestone and chalk, and are eroded into a honeycomb of tunnels, caves and caverns, a veritable sponge which through the centuries have soaked up and retained a vast reservoir of water.
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| A pool in Soreq Cave |
All these things are a reminder of how totally we must depend on God. He is our protector and our savior. There is no way any government nor human organization can protect us adequately from all the potential threats, whether natural or man made.
No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.
Zechariah 1: 5-7
