For years, the Sea of Galilee has been shrinking. Then, this past winter delivered a pleasant surprise to the biblical lake. While this ancient body of water isn’t out of danger, a rainy winter has helped bring relief.
“A miracle,” said Roni Manor from Kibbutz Ginnosar on the Sea of Galilee.
Just six months ago, the Sea of Galilee was in trouble due to years of little rain and drought-like conditions. After years of low rainfall, the tourist boats could only dock near the end of the pier at Ginnosar. Now, after a rainy winter, things are looking up.
“We have (had) a lot of rain and snow that come(s) from the Hermon Mountain. Usually, we have about 350 millimeters of rain. This year we have more than 600 millimeters. It was a shock to the water in Israel,” Manor told CBN News.
The last time the Sea of Galilee — or Kinneret as it is referenced in the Old Testament — was full was in 2008 and before that 1996.
In November we visited Kibbutz Ginnosar. The water level was way down and the water’s edge was dozens of feet from where it is now.
“Every time we arrive to the dangerous point, somebody (does) something for us,” Manor said pointing at the sky.
Streams that feed the Kinneret are brimming with water. Trees were on the banks of the lake for years are now underwater. And other areas that were completely dry are now covered. And though the rains are finished until next winter, there’s melting snow from the Hermon and streams still feeding the lake.
Daniel Carmel runs the Worship Boats. He said in November they could hardly dock here.
“(Tourists) don’t know how is the Sea of Galilee when it’s full. This is the lowest that I ever saw. In 25 years that I’m here this is the lowest,” Carmel told us then.
Now Joseph Gina from the Francis Jordan Sailing Ship says things have changed.
“This year it’s very, very good, thank God for this, OK this is a miracle by the way, So this year it’s a lot of raining. So the level in the Sea of Galilee it’s come up very, very good,” Gina told CBN News
While the winter rain delivered a much-needed miracle, the Sea of Galilee is clearly not out of danger.
Last fall Carmel asked people to pray.
“Prayers (have) been answered. Halleluyah!” Carmel told CBN News now. “I would call it a miracle. Don’t stop praying, continue, so next winter we’ll have the same.”
As people here and around the world pray for this key body of water, Israel is doing what it can to make new water sources and preserve the unique biblical lake.