Water
Water is everywhere in Scripture. Waters separated in creation, (Genesis 1:7) floods destroying everything, (Genesis 7:20) waters divided, (Exodus 14:21) water baptism, (Matthew 3:13-17) water turned to wine, (John 2:1-11) stormy seas, (Matthew 8:24) walking on water, (Matthew 14:22-33) and psalms describing the overwhelming feeling of rising waters. (Psalm 69:2, Jeremiah 47:2) Water and chaos go hand in hand and yet, water represents new life, spirit washing, and spirit refreshing.
I wonder why the Spirit led the writers to use walking and running as the analogy of the Christian life. Why not swimming and treading? Because everyone can relate to walking and running unless they are disabled because we begin walking VERY early in life, stumbling, falling, and needing to rise again and again. Not everyone experiences the swimming analogy and the Jews traditionally are afraid of water, according to Rabbi Jason Sobel in The Rock, The Road, and The Rabbi, because the Jews had to walk through parted waters (Exodus), Jonah was swallowed by a large fish (Jonah), the earth was flooded and everything drowned (Genesis), storms and Jesus walking on the water when the seven mile trip across the Sea of Galilee was considered dangerous (Gospels), and water turned into blood (Exodus) to name a few. Jews were land lovers.
However, the Hebrew letter of mem IS about water and is the picture of chaos and the life cycle.
Mem has a gematria (assigned number value) of forty (40) which is representative of trials, tribulations, and transition. Water is essential for LIFE from the beginning of man’s journey.
The focus is: God is with us and Isaiah 43:2 wrote of this as we go from “the womb to the tomb;” When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_hN5MLsS0k
When You Walk Through the Waters
As you ponder this thought listen to this beautiful rendition of this Scripture in light of your own chaos and hear and feel the hope and love of God for you. The chaos and destructive power of water will not harm you when your trust is in the LORD. Psalm 18:16-18 He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. 17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. 18 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay.
Our mighty God rescues the drowning soul! He reaches down from heaven and grabs us by the arm and lifts us out and plants our feet on solid ground. He IS our Lifeguard!
Please pray for all those in harm’s way as the many storms approach, batter, and leave a path of devastation.
Thanks, Von, for sharing this post about water. I do know how to swim but I am a reluctant swimmer. I seem to have weak leg muscles. I had a scare at age 4, almost drowning when my lifetube flipped in the water and I got myself inundated with more water than my small body could tolerate. God blessed me early in life, saving me from drowning by family and friends close by to de-water my little body. I stayed away from water until college, when they made EVERYONE take swimming lessons. I passed but not with flying colors.
Thankfully, Jesus is now my water of life, and I no longer drown in problems.
I enjoy reading what you write, and listening to your teaching.
Thank you Shirley for your words of encouragement. You are such a blessing