In a tweet released Easter Sunday, Ofir Gendelman, spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reported that the Sea of Galilee is overflowing with water, an occurrence not seen for thirty years.

Water in the Middle East is a precious commodity, especially in a region that has seen mostly drought years recently. In 2018, experts warned that the Sea was reaching worryingly low levels. Today, those worries are gone.

Like much of the world, Israel finds itself grappling with the stark realities of the COVID-19 pandemic. As of Wednesday, April 15, they have reported 12,200 cases and 124 deaths. For Israelis, the abundance of water is a sign of hope in the midst of the pandemic.

The sea, which features prominently in the biblical Gospels, is known for its volatile weather. Storms can appear with very little warning. It lies at 680 feet below sea level and is encompassed by hills, some as high as 2,000 feet. Cool air comes down and mixes with warm, moist air from the surrounding semi-tropical land. Combined with the sea's shallow depth, (usually two hundred feet at the lowest), these conditions can whip up a storm and catch anyone out on the water by surprise.

This is vividly described in Mark 4:37, "A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped." (NIV) The story goes on to describe how Jesus awoke and calmed the storm with His words.