Sometimes people ask me, "Why do you study Biblical geography so much?" Generally, I study Biblical geography because it helps me to understand the Bible more.
But, to answer answer the question specifically, I can think of three reasons. I will cover these three reasons in the next few posts.
Reason #1 - I study Biblical Geography to better understand God's people.
As Moses was giving final directions to the nations of Israel, he states:
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. - Deuteronomy 6:4-9
God wanted His people to teach their children about Him as they walked by the way (or, as they walked across the land). Three times a year, the nation of Israel were required to go to Jerusalem for the feasts. As they made those trips, it would provide a number of opportunities for the parents to talk to their kids about God.
As they passed the Spring of Harod, the could explain how God used Gideon and a small army of only 300 men to take on and defeat the Midianites.
As they passed Mount Carmel, they could explain how God and Elijah took on the prophets of Baal and proved that He was the one and only true God.
As they passed the ruins of Jericho, they could explain how God used His power to render a fortified city defenseless against His people.
By studying Biblical Geography, we can better understand God's people and how they taught their children.
In my next two posts, I'll discuss two other reasons why we need to study Biblical geography.