Water, water everywhere

I really enjoyed the talk in church last Sunday. The visiting speaker completed a series on the Lord’s Prayer with, “For thine is the power and the glory…” He talked about God’s power, which sometimes becomes available to us as we move forward rather than while we are waiting in a safe place for God’s supernatural intervention. The presenter gave good examples: Moses was commanded to stretch his hand over the Red Sea and give the order to march. When he obeyed, the waters parted and Israelites escaped the Egyptian armies, walking through on dry land before the enemy soldiers and their horses drowned on the same course. Joshua also led the nation through the Jordan, which piled up its waters upstream in spite of being at flood stage. Again, the Israelites walked through without a splash.

It occurred to me that I’m tired of walking into the water and coming through soaked. Seems instead of the waters miraculously parting, I get handed a big towel to dry off on the other side after an exhausting swim of faith. Of course, my job is obedience. “The floodwaters will not overwhelm you,” said Isaiah the prophet.

Yeah, I guess there are times when the waters part, and times when a strong swim is in order. Depends on the journey rather than the water. The call to faith-filled obedience is the same. Swimming or striding.

Read more:
*The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever. Psalm 29:10 NIV

*If the LORD had not been on our side—let Israel say- if the LORD had not been on our side when men attacked us, when their anger flared against us, they would have swallowed us alive; the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, the raging waters would have swept us away. Praise be to the LORD, who has not let us be torn by their teeth. We have escaped like a bird out of the fowler's snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 124 NIV

*But now, this is what the LORD says—he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior… Isaiah 43:1-3a NIV

*I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete." Luke 7:47-49 NIV