|
Wine , and a sense of humor for
that matter, were given to us by a beneficent God who knew from time
to time we would need them. The Bible has a lot to say about wine. In
fact, the grapevine and its primary product, wine, is mentioned more
than any other plant.
In the book of Genesis, chapter 9,
after the Great Flood, Noah begins anew by planting a vineyard and
making wine. He is credited as being the first to plant a vineyard.
Lamech, Noah's father, said that Noah would "bring us relief and
comfort from our work and the toil of our hands." This he surely
fulfilled as the first wine-maker.
With the first wine, came the
first occasion of drunkeness. The Bible warns of the pitfalls of too
much wine. It declares wine is a mocker and whoever is led astray by
it, is not wise. On the other side of the same coin, it reminds us God
made the wine that gladdens the heart of man. Clearly, moderation is
called for here.
From ancient times, the Levant has
been famous for the quality and quantity of its wine. The Bible says
little though regarding the use of wine in ordinary life. It was
customary to present wine to travelers. It was used at feasts and
marriages. In times of scarcity it was mixed with water and sometimes
even with milk. Its importance is evident in the fact that Israel was
deprived of it by God as a punishment.
In the New Testament, we see Jesus'
first miracle was turning water into wine for the marriage celebration
at Cana. How we wish we could have tasted that wine! Paul recommended
wine to Timothy as a digestive aid. Its symbolic importance for
Christians is well known and practiced today. |
