The Valley of Silence: What the Dead Sea Hides
A few days ago, I shared with you the Parable of the Two Seas: the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. In the first, one of the most beautiful stories took place: Jesus walking on the water, showing His sovereignty over creation. In the second, however, one of the most terrifying stories unfolded. This is what I want to tell you about today.
The Dead Sea was not always "dead." The Bible tells us that in ancient times, this area was not a salty abyss, but an extremely fertile valley—so lush it was compared to the Garden of the Lord. Two prosperous cities were settled there: Sodom and Gomorrah.
The world has speculated much about their downfall, but Scripture is clear about the root of their wickedness. Its inhabitants were, above all, deeply selfish. This was their true sin; not the interpretations the modern world has tried to impose, but a level of pride that led them to close their hearts to those in need. The prophet Ezekiel confirmed this centuries later: "Now this was the sin of Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy" (Ezekiel 16:49).
Their sin reached such a point—the sin of receiving everything while giving nothing back—that God decided to bring their deviation to an end. A consuming fire was their end, and what was once a green paradise was buried under brimstone.
Since then, the Jordan Valley has become an arid land, a body of stagnant water where life cannot take hold. The landscape changed to remind us that selfishness is a grave sin in the eyes of God. The Dead Sea is, in essence, a geographical monument to a society that chose to stop flowing and preferred to be consumed by its own abundance.
The Dead Sea was not always "dead." The Bible tells us that in ancient times, this area was not a salty abyss, but an extremely fertile valley—so lush it was compared to the Garden of the Lord. Two prosperous cities were settled there: Sodom and Gomorrah.
The world has speculated much about their downfall, but Scripture is clear about the root of their wickedness. Its inhabitants were, above all, deeply selfish. This was their true sin; not the interpretations the modern world has tried to impose, but a level of pride that led them to close their hearts to those in need. The prophet Ezekiel confirmed this centuries later: "Now this was the sin of Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy" (Ezekiel 16:49).
Their sin reached such a point—the sin of receiving everything while giving nothing back—that God decided to bring their deviation to an end. A consuming fire was their end, and what was once a green paradise was buried under brimstone.
Since then, the Jordan Valley has become an arid land, a body of stagnant water where life cannot take hold. The landscape changed to remind us that selfishness is a grave sin in the eyes of God. The Dead Sea is, in essence, a geographical monument to a society that chose to stop flowing and preferred to be consumed by its own abundance.
61-69, M
