Living Waters
Ezek. 47:1-12
The water doesn’t come to you. You go to it.
Photo by Gabriela Testa on Unsplash
Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple; there, water was flowing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east); and the water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. Then he brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and the water was coming out on the south side. Going on eastward with a cord in his hand, the man measured one thousand cubits, and then led me through the water; and it was ankle-deep. Again he measured one thousand, and led me through the water; and it was knee-deep. Again he measured one thousand, and led me through the water; and it was up to the waist. Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross, for the water had risen; it was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be crossed. He said to me, “Mortal, have you seen this?” Then he led me back along the bank of the river. As I came back, I saw on the bank of the river a great many trees on the one side and on the other. He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah; and when it enters the sea, the sea of stagnant waters, the water will become fresh. Wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish, once these waters reach there. It will become fresh; and everything will live where the river goes. People will stand fishing beside the sea from En-gedi to En-eglaim; it will be a place for the spreading of nets; its fish will be of a great many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt. On the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.” - Ezek. 47:1-12
When Ezekiel discovers that the water flowing into and out of the Temple has healing powers, he realizes that it is intended to flow everywhere on eaaarth, not just within the Temple walls.
God’s plan it to reach everyone with this living water, which is a symbol of the Messiah, who we believe is Jesus.
But there is action on our part, as evidenced by the people going to John the Baptist and coming to Jesus to be healed.
We must have faith and courage to go where the waters are.
I have a dear friend from high school days who had an inoperable brain tumor years back. When doctors told him there was nothing they could do, he went to Lourdes for the healing waters.
While the waters didn’t heal him, when he returned, his doctor learned of a new experimental procedure and he tried that on my friend. The result left him with some disability but he is alive and so grateful to God.
Did the water have anything to do with the miraculous change in his health or was it something else that changed the dynamics?
Many will say it was a pure coincidence. The procedure was already being worked on and his doctor could have known about it sooner.
True, but my friend’s determination to go to where he believed the healing was, and the doctor’s decision to look deeper as a result of my friend’s commitment, must account for something.
When I read of the prophets and how God showed them what they needed to do, I get the impression that God wants us to meet Him on this journey of ours. Take the first steps and God will meet you where you are.
Those who do nothing but blame God for their fate miss the golden opportunity to find healing power in God.
More to come...