Water in the Bible

During these days of heatwave, lack of rain and talk of water shortages I am sure our minds have often turned to the importance of water for all living things. It got me thinking about references to water in the Bible and I was surprised to note how many and varied the references are.

In the very early chapters of Genesis we read about the flood which devastated the world at the time and which reminds us that, although God is a God of love, there has to be judgement for sin. That is the very reason God sent Jesus to take the judgement for us.

There are a couple of Old Testament stories where water becomes a barrier: when the Israelites were being followed by the Egyptians and they reached the Red Sea, and when Joshua reached the River Jordan on his way into the Promised Land. In both cases God temporarily removed the barrier and the people were able to move forward. I am sure we have all experienced such barriers, such times of difficulty in our lives and I am sure many of us, too, have experienced God’s bringing us through.

In the New Testament we read of Jesus offering the woman at Samaria living water (John 4:13-14), a picture of the eternal life we can have if only we accept it, as the woman did. The woman then went back to the town and called others to come so that they, too, could meet the giver of living water. If we have received this living water, are we sharing it with others?

Then there is the water of baptism, a symbol of our having been buried with Christ and raised to newness of life. (Col. 2:12)

We know very well that water enables growth and that is why we are missing it so much at the moment. In addressing issues in the church at Corinth Paul testified that he had planted the seed that had led to the founding of the church but it was Apollos, another disciple, who had watered the seed and caused the church to grow. The church still needs its waterers, helping new Christians to grow in their faith. Paul did acknowledge, as we must, that it is God that makes the seed grow. (1 Cor. 3:6)

There are several places in the Old Testament where the writers have obviously experienced the feeling of peace and serenity that can come through relaxing by a smoothly flowing stream or quiet lake and they have used that feeling as an example of the peace and serenity that God can give if we take time to take advantage of it.

Ps. 23:2 and Jer. 31:9 are examples.

As we pray for rain to water our parched gardens and the surrounding countryside let us also remember some of the lessons we can learn from the many Biblical references to water.

Mary Breeze