The River of Life

The river of life

Water is used to symbolise many things in the Bible; cleansing, new life or healing.

Read Ezekiel Chapter 47:1-12

Here is a wonderful picture of the river of life, symbolising the spirit, life and power of God. Like all rivers, the river of life begins as a small trickle that grows into a mighty river too deep to stand in.

• If the water represents the spirit, life and power of God, where are we standing? With our feet in the shallows? Or have we launched out into the deep water to be carried along by the power of God’s love?

The deeper we move into our relationship with God, the more the river of life will surround us and flow through us. The river of life brings blessing wherever it passes.

The sea that is mentioned here is the Dead Sea – which has a very high salt content.

• What happens as the river of life enters the Dead Sea?
• Do we have the same effect on our sinful communities and the world in which we live?

Now read: Read Revelation Chapter 22:1-2

This part of Revelation deals with God's provision of food and water. Compare:

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. (Exodus 16:4a.)

On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much as usual—four quarts^[a] for each person instead of two. Then all the leaders of the community came and asked Moses for an explanation. ²³ He told them, “This is what the Lord commanded: Tomorrow will be a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath day set apart for the Lord. So bake or boil as much as you want today, and set aside what is left for tomorrow.”
²⁴ So they put some aside until morning, just as Moses had commanded. And in the morning the leftover food was wholesome and good, without maggots or odor. (Exodus 16:22-24.)

Ezekiel 47:1-12 - see above.

Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” (John 4:10).

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. ³³ The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
³⁴ “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”
³⁵ Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:32-35).