Water is an element of God’s creation that is essential to life. It can bring both blessing and affliction. The Bible makes great use of the figure of water in numerous ways, some of which are being discussed in our Vacation Bible School this week. Consider the role water plays as one reads through the Bible.

• The waters of the deep give way to dry land, which supports vegetation and human life (Gen. 1:9-10).
• The waters abounded with life (Gen. 1:20-21).
• The Garden of Eden was watered by a river (Gen. 2:10).
• The world was destroyed by flood waters (Gen. 6-9).
• Rebekah was shown to be Isaac’s bride by her watering the camels (Gen. 24).
• God’s judgment on Egypt began with the waters of the Nile River turning to blood and ended with their army drowning in the Red Sea after Israel had escaped to freedom on dry land (Ex. 7, 14).
• Water was provided to Israel from the rocks (Ex. 17; Num. 20).
• Israel entered the Promised Land when God stopped the swollen waters of the Jordan River (Joshua 3-4).
• Elijah prayed for rain, ending a three-year drought (1 Kings 19:41-46; James 5:17-18).
• Naaman was cleansed of leprosy by dipping seven times in the Jordan (2 Kings 5).
• One who meditates on God’s Law is like a tree planted by the rivers of water (Ps. 1:2-3).
• As our Good Shepherd, the Lord leads us beside the still waters (Ps. 23:2).
• A husband is to drink water from his own cistern and well (his wife – Prov. 5:15).
• We are to draw water from the wells of salvation (Is. 12:3).
• Ezekiel saw a wonderful vision of water gushing from the temple (Ezek. 47).
• God wants justice to run like a river and righteousness like a mighty stream (Amos 5:24).
• Jonah was carried to the deep in the belly of the great fish (Jonah 2).
• John preached a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins (Mark 1:4).
• Jesus calmed the storm and walked on water (Matt. 8:23-27; 14:25-33).
• Jesus told Nicodemus one must be born of the water and the Spirit (John 3).
• Jesus offered living water to the Samaritan woman (John 4).
• The man born blind was healed when he washed in the pool of Siloam (John 9:1-7).
• Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16).
• Rain and fruitful seasons are a witness of God’s existence and goodness (Acts 14:17; Ps. 104:10-17).
• We are saved “through the washing of regeneration” (Titus 3:5).
• We can draw near to God because our hearts are sprinkled and our bodies are washed with pure water (Heb. 10:22).
• The river of water of life flows from God’s throne in heaven (Rev. 22:1-5).
• The water of life is offered freely to those who will come (Rev. 22:17).