Besides air, water is the most important substance which the LORD has provided for the survival of mankind. We read that HE breathed into the man whom HE had created from the dust of the earth and that man (i.e.; Adam) became a living soul. Yet before HE created man, according to HIS purpose to manifest the glory of HIS grace in his redemption, HE created the world which would be inhabited by him, in a firmament which HE formed in the midst of the “waters”. “And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.” (Gen 1:6-10)
To say that this is a mystery which is outside of the realm of human understanding is an understatement. Heaven is the realm created by GOD in the firmament surrounded above and beneath with “the waters”. Earth is the realm created for natural man to occupy in that space. When we contemplate the glory of this creation we are struck dumb with amazement and must put our hands upon our mouths as we fall in worship before HIM who inhabits eternity. “For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?” (Rom 11:34) “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?” (Job 38:4-5) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa 55:8-9)
That such an ONE as this should be mindful of man, must ever cause us to be astounded. A mere creature of a span, a piece of dust, insignificant in and of himself. Yet the LORD of Glory has purposed to make him the object of HIS everlasting love and electing grace. Such condescension on HIS part not simply to reciprocate love to a creature who loves HIM, but to manifest that love to those who are rebels against HIM, enemies in their minds according to their wicked works. “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:6-8) “We love him, because he first loved us.” (1John 4:19)
The word “waters” appears in the KJV, 287 times and in its singular form “water”, 396 times. We read it 32 times in Genesis, 11 of which are in the first chapter. We see it 38 times in the Psalms and 33 and 34 times in the prophecies of Isaiah and Ezekiel respectively. In the NT we see it mentioned 13 times in the Book of The Revelation. We would do well to contemplate these things. We are most especially interested in it as the LORD referred to HIMSELF as that “LIVING WATER”. “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”(John 4:14) We say with the woman of Samaria, “Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not.” (John 4:15)
The incidence of the “flood of waters” which covered the Earth occupies a most notable place in the unfolding of history for two reasons. One, is that we see the glory of GOD revealed in HIS judgement of the wickedness of men as HE destroyed all living things. Secondly is that we see an even greater display of HIS glory in the salvation of mankind as HE showed grace unto Noah and his family. The LORD shut him in the ARK where he safely rode above the destruction and mayhem visited upon that race of which he was a part. The LORD alone made Noah to differ from all of those hapless souls who perished in that flood. Some of which, no doubt, were cursing GOD while others simply perished in their ignorance as transgressors of the commandments of GOD, happy with their religion of one type or another until the rain began to fall and the fountains of the deep were opened.
Another notable occurrence which involved the same “waters” was when the LORD parted the Red Sea, delivering the Israelites and destroying the Egyptians. Once again, we see that they were only made to differ from the Hamites because of the grace of GOD. “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” (Deut 7:6-8)
When the Israelites were crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land, the LORD caused the “waters” of the Jordan to stand up as a heap and they crossed over on dry land. In this the LORD would demonstrate that it is not by might, nor by power, that the promise of GOD is visited upon HIS people but by HIS SPIRIT’s operation. “Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.” (Zec 4:7)
Elijah, that prince of prophets, along with his understudy and successor, Elisha, both parted the “waters” of Jordan in demonstration of the LORD’s power upon HIS WORD. (see II Kings 2:8-14) And who can forget the answer of the LORD by fire upon Mt. Carmel, as it licked up the “waters” which were in the trench surrounding the sodden offering as HE demonstrated that HE alone is the GOD of all gods, having the prophets of Baal in derision. Was this not a foreshadow of HIS utter triumph over all principalities and powers which HE manifested upon Mt. Calvary and the garden tomb. “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” (Col 2:14-15)
When the LORD JESUS embarked upon HIS ministry among men, HE sought out a man, clothed in camel hair and eating locusts and wild honey, who was immersing (i.e.; baptizing) men in “water”. This “water” had no power at all, yet the LORD used it to demonstrate HIS humility in being baptized unto “repentance”, in the behalf of all of those whom the FATHER had given unto HIM. It was upon this “baptism” that the FATHER spoke from heaven in approval of this ONE who came to manifest HIS Kingdom. “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Mat 3:16-17) “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.”(Heb 1:1-2)
HE turned the water into wine in Cana to make glad the heart of man. HE gave living water to an unworthy and sinful woman in Samaria. HE calmed the raging water and calmed the fears of HIS troubled disciples. Yet it was by the cruel stroke of men that HE was pleased to bring forth healing and forgiveness of sin. “But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.” (John 19:34) “Rock of Ages, cleft for me; let me hide myself in thee; Let the water and the blood, From thy riven side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure, Cleanse me from its guilt and power.” (Toplady, #143, Gadsby’s Hymns)
mam