Perhaps no other story sums this view up as well as that of Jonah. After rebelling against God and fleeing to Tarshish, God sent a massive storm, which threatened the lives of all the sailors. Jonah knew the only way to save the men's lives was to get him off that ship, and so he allowed himself to be thrown overboard.

We can see that water is here a destructive force, and that Jonah, in order to be saved, must first allow himself a certain death by being tossed in the sea. Sure enough, as soon as Jonah is off the ship, the storm abates. But Jonah himself must suffer several more days in the water--an experience of death and eventually of repentance--before he is brought back to safety by God.

So as we walk through the 40 days of Lent, we need to keep in mind Noah and the 40 days of salvation which he experienced. As we prepare ourselves for the season of Easter, let us examine ourselves, see what in our lives (inside and out) threatens to destroy us, and trust in God to show us his salvation, bringing us through whatever waters we come to on our journey.

But we cannot leave the subject of water here, for scripture also portrays a very positive picture of water. As I said last time, for those who are in the desert, water is a source of life. The water at the pool of Bethesda healed whoever got into it first after it was stirred by the angel, just as Naaman was healed by washing in the waters of the Jordan.

Further, Jesus refers to himself as a source of living water, and with water he washes the feet of the disciples. He also commands water, walking on it, turning it into wine, calming it when it rages. And he promises that we ourselves will partake of this water, saying in John 7.38:

"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'"

The same water which can overwhelm us when it comes in great quantities, either by swallowing us or by blocking our progress, can also be a source of life and health for us when we are in the desert. We remember that in the Garden of Eden there were four rivers, all stemming from the river which watered the garden itself. And we look forward to the river of the water of life that comes from the throne of God in the book of Revelation.

But I want to focus on a less-well-known passage of scripture: Ezekiel 47. In this chapter, Ezekiel is shown the river that flows out of the New Temple. Note how it is described in verses 1-5:

Then he brought me back to the door of the house; and behold, water was flowing from under the threshold of the house toward the east, for the house faced east. And the water was flowing down from under, from the right side of the house, from south of the altar. He brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate by way of the gate that faces east. And behold, water was trickling from the south side.

When the man went out toward the east with a line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he led me through the water, water reaching the ankles. Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the knees. Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the loins. Again he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not ford, for the water had risen, enough water to swim in, a river that could not be forded.

Do you see what is going on here? As the river progresses away from the Temple, it gets deeper. What is the importance of this? Notice how God explains it to Ezekiel in verses 7-12:

He said to me, "Son of man, have you seen this?" Then he brought me back to the bank of the river. Now when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the river there were very many trees on the one side and on the other. Then he said to me,

"These waters go out toward the eastern region and go down into the Arabah; then they go toward the sea, being made to flow into the sea, and the waters of the sea become fresh.

"It will come about that every living creature which swarms in every place where the river goes, will live. And there will be very many fish, for these waters go there and the others become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. And it will come about that fishermen will stand beside it; from Engedi to Eneglaim there will be a place for the spreading of nets. Their fish will be according to their kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea, very many. But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt.

"By the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing."

Notice how the river here causes life to flourish? Fish thrive, trees bear fruit monthly, leaves bring healing. Isn't this wonderful? The river coming from the Temple carries life with it, and the farther away people are from the temple, the deeper it gets, in order to allow life to remain in full bloom! God is reaching out to the farthest reaches of the earth, bringing life to those who cannot come before the Temple.

I believe that in some way, this picture also represents who we are as believers. Taking Jesus' words that from out of our hearts shall flow rivers of living water, we can look at this picture this way: the farther we move into the world, the more God increases the flow of water in order to bring us life. We do not have to worry about staying close to the Temple in order to have enough water to share with others. On the contrary, the more the water is needed, the more God promises to supply us!

What a wonderful promise! How incredible to know that as we move into the dry, parched world, where people are dying of thirst and hunger, we shall always have enough to offer them. Like the bread and fish that Jesus multiplied for the crowds, we too will have an ever-abundant supply of refreshment to offer the world.

We are the vessels of God's love to the world. We must go to where the people are thirsty, because only we have the water they need to survive. As you go through this week, make an effort, every time you take a drink, or water your plants, or whenever the thought hits you, to ask God to show you who in your life needs the water you have to give. Ask God to use you as a river of living water for the people around you. Bernard of Clairvaux says that we are to be reservoirs of God's love -- always able to release as much as is needed for the world around us. Ask God to make you that reservoir of love and life this week. Then tell me what happens!

S.D.G.!

In Christ,
steve