Water is essential for life. Without it, man and beast die. As water is necessary for physical life, the Bible uses it as a symbol of spiritual strength. It provides peace, comfort and contentment to those who, in sincerity, ask Jesus for a drink.
When the Israelites crossed the desert from Egypt to Israel, Moses struck a rock to provide water. The early stories of the Bible all represent deep truths as God reveals His plan for mankind, and in this provision of water to save lives we see what Jesus meant when He said if anyone is thirsty they should come to Him.
When a woman from Samaria was drawing water from a well, Jesus came and told her that He had water to give to her which, if she drank it, would satisfy her for all time. It was as a spring watering forever with eternal life (John 4:6-26). It is a river of life gushing out to give life to us just as the water gushed out from the rock when Moses struck it to water the thirsty people. In both cases, the water was God-given.
We are a nation wandering around in a hot desert dying of thirst. We know not where to look for an oasis to quench the dryness in our throats. We have been walking for a very long time but cannot find any water. We follow first one ideology, then another--sometimes even following church leaders in search of it, but never ending up with anything to satisfy the deep thirst in our souls. As manna was supplied to the people in the desert when there was no food, Jesus is the spiritual food for us. But man requires both food and water; Jesus uses symbols to explain who He is and what He does. Only by coming to Jesus for our provisions will we be able to survive in these difficult days.
Jesus used the symbol of a flowing, gushing spring to explain the washing and cleansing power of His Spirit. When our bodies and clothing become soiled, we wash them in water. When our spiritual life becomes stained with sin, we then must have Jesus to cleanse our hearts. He never refuses anyone who sincerely asks for forgiveness and cleansing.
King David knew about the peace of God when he spoke about the "still waters" in the 23rd Psalm. A quiet body of water can be a very soothing place to go when we are physically and emotionally exhausted and require a quiet vacation. When we sit down beside Jesus at the quiet waters of His Spirit, we find a peace which the world cannot give. If only we would take time to sit down quietly and open our dulled ears to hear what He is saying to us, we would be given His gift of a contented heart.
The gospel of Mark lists certain signs Jesus said would be the mark of His true followers. One sign was that they could drink poisonous water and it would not harm them (Mark 16:18). He was saying that if people have the living water of His Spirit within them, nothing in the physical realm poses any threat, not even polluted water. Only this kind of assurance can give us peace in a world of terror.
When peace like a river flows over my soul, I know I am safe in the arms of my Saviour.
© 1999, Doreen Palmer
