Alaska volcano in 44BC affected Europe’s climate, preparing history for monumental change.

Nov 1, 2024. eflsuccess.com ⇔

Underlined vocabulary terms are defined below, followed by discussion questions

Mysterious forces wreak havoc…again

In early 2020, the COVID-19 global pandemic shows how an action in one place can affect the whole world. But it wasn’t the first time that “mysterious” forces wreaked havoc around the globe. Research published in 2020 suggests that a giant volcanic eruption in Alaska in 44 B.C. shocked the climate and created economic and political havoc across the Mediterranean, a few decades before Jesus was born in the region.

Rome’s ruler (Julius Caesar) was assassinated in 44 BC, causing a power struggle. At around the same time, famine and disease struck Egypt, making it hard to feed Rome’s millions. By examining Arctic ice cores and other research, we now know why crops failed: climate change. The 44 BC eruption of Alaska’s Okmok volcano made the years 43 and 42 BC unusually cold in the Mediterranean region, starting a decade-long cold spell. Egyptian and Roman records suggest that the entire Mediterranean was suffering from food shortages, disease, and unrest, contributing to political change at this critical time in Western civilization.

In 44 BC, Europeans had no way to know about a distant volcano, and many saw the problems as “the hand of God.” When COVID-19 appeared, technology helped to reduce the mystery behind the virus. But many people still looked “to God” to make sense of the unusual disaster. While it is impossible to establish a clear cause-and-effect link between disasters and the hand of God, it is easy to see that we humans are not “in control.” The 2020 global pandemic helps us understand how a disaster (now or 2000 years ago) can disrupt supply lines, wipe out jobs, create social unrest, and affect global politics.

The BC/AD division in history (i.e., when Jesus was born in Israel) has been called “the fullness of time” (Gal 4:4). Some believe that God’s invisible hand gave the western world a common language, safe roads, convenient travel, and otherwise created an unparalleled climate for the Good News of Jesus to quickly spread across a major part of the globe. Now we know that even a distant volcano and the weather were involved.

Christians believe that God uses unusual events (like the Okmok eruption and COVID-19) to show us our needs and get our attention. They believe we are normally unable to see God’s hand because our choice to sin has pushed us away from God. But “at the fullness of time,” God sent His Son (Jesus) to buy our pardon and open our eyes. Was God using this Alaska volcano to get people’s attention “in the fullness of time”? Could God again be using a global crisis like COVID-19 to get our attention, and turn us from the destructive path of sin…before it is too late? These are questions worth thinking about.

Vocabulary:

• assassinate: to intentionally kill sb important, normally because you don’t like their political or religious views
• critical: involving careful judgments or thoughts about sth (Note: unlike “criticize”, “critical” can be both positive or negative)
• famine: a widespread lack of food (often because of harsh environmental conditions, like a lack of rain)
• ice cores: a tube-like sample of old ice, whose layers are like the rings of a tree, revealing things about history (the ice is normally in the arctic or a glacier)
• mystery (mysterious): unknown or unexplained event or situation, that can often be understood with enough information
• pardon: to officially allow sb who is guilty to go free without being punished
• region: a large though often undefined area
• sin: human imperfection; according to the Bible, sin is every human act that falls short (“misses the mark”) of the perfection God intended for humans; all sin separates people from God, and the only way to “pay” for sin was through blood sacrifice
• technology: the practical application of scientific knowledge to do things better; new equipment and ways of doing things that reflect growing or modern knowledge
• volcanic eruption: when hot, liquid rock (or gas) explodes from a certain type of “fire mountain”
• wreak havoc: (phrasal verb) to cause a lot of damage or problems
• “the Good News”: the account of Jesus’ life, teachings, death, and resurrection (return to life)

Discussion:
Are there any terms you want to ask your teacher about?

1. What is one thing that you’ve done today that affected someone else?
2. What are some ways that COVID-19, a hurricane or other disaster has wreaked havoc around the globe?
3. If you can’t solve a mystery, how do you feel? Why do people feel this way?
4. What do people like to think that they are “in control” of? Are they really “in control”? Explain.
5. This article shows us that “climate change” is not a new thing. Does this surprise you? The “news” makes it sound like current weather trends are “worse than ever.” Could it be that we simply do not understand earth’s history very well? Why or why not?
6. Do you think God still tries to “get people’s attention”? If so, why? If you don’t believe this, why not?
7. If there is a God, and if God wanted to give the world a special message, how do you think He would send that message? If this “special message” was 2000 years ago (without today’s technology), would you change your answer?
8. The “Good News” involves very bad news, followed by remarkably good news. What’s the bad news and what’s the good news? (Hint: see “Rom 6:23” below, or ask a friend who is familiar with what Christians believe.)
9. The Bible says that “all people have sinned” (Rom 3:23) and that “the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23). What is your reaction to both of these ideas? Read Rom 6:23; what “free gift” is offered to those whose sin has been pardoned?

Rom 3:23:  For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (ESV)

Rom 6:23:  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

Going deeper: Look for the longer version of this article at http://wp.krigline.com/purpose2

For my article about Fighting Fear of COVID-19, click this link.

Primary source about the volcano (and one of the photos) is an article by Brooks Hays, UPI, Accuweather.com

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/volcano-halfway-around-the-globe-altered-romes-history-forever/766169  June 23, 2020

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2002722117   June 22, 2020

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