Biblical Proportions

I was reading an article this morning in the Washington Post about the eminent collapse of the Mosul dam in Iraq, which, according to estimates, may kill approximately 500,000 people when it fails. The dam was built upon gypsum, a material that disintegrates when in contact with water. Uh… Huh? The structure was built on "sand"? And they are surprised that it is unstable?

Reading this article brought back a whole lot of Bible stories from childhood. Specifically poignant is Matthew's story of two brothers, one who builds his house on stone and another on sand. When the rains came, the foolish brother's house was destroyed. Matthew goes on to say:

Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

Other than just Mosul, another city will be destroyed by the dam's collapse. Because the city is Nineveh, you can understand why the fire and brimstone with which I was raised started coming back in full force. Nineveh is the city that Jonah (remember the guy that was swallowed and later regurgitated by a whale) preached to and eventually saved. It is often, though, condemned in the Bible and is described as evil:

Nahum 1:14 (NIV)

"The LORD has given a command concerning you, Nineveh : 'You will have no descendants to bear your name. I will destroy the carved images and cast idols that are in the temple of your gods. I will prepare your grave, for you are vile.'"

It just all seems so "weird", you know? I don't think that it has much significance, to be truthful. It is interesting, though.

The problem is that if a dam breaks and kills 500,000 people and destroys several cities in Iraq, the Iraqis, who built the dam in the first place, will not be blamed. The US will be seen as incompetent even though the Army Corps of Engineers has recommended to the Iraqi government that the dam must be seen to immediately. Thee government is in control of the money and gives the OK for such projects. But, we will get the blame if something catastrophic happens. Great.

A short, open letter to the residents of Mosul and Nineveh: Move!