Into the Deep End; Ezekiel 47

May the mumbling commence!

Today’s reading was an extra-special treat – especially after a day or two of details, details, details.  The first twelve verses of Ezekiel 47 are special to me.  I heard a sermon on this passage the summer before I left my hometown to live elsewhere for the first time in my life.  I was going to seminary, and I wasn’t sure where the Lord would lead me.  Little did I know then that I would meet my wife at seminary, and I had no idea where I would end up geographically.  I was as ready as I would ever be to be swept away by the awesome power of the Holy Spirit of God.  Read the passage below:

The man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar.  He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was flowing from the south side. 

As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep.  He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist.  He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in – a river that no one could cross.  He asked me, "Son of man, do you see this?"

Then he led me back to the bank of the river.  When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river.  He said to me, "This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Sea. When it empties into the Sea, the water there becomes fresh.  Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live.  Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds – like the fish of the Great Sea.  But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt.  Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing."  

Ask yourself a question:  Am I in the kiddies’ wading pool of the Spirit, OR am I diving into the deep end?  The Holy Spirit will sweep you off your feet – if you allow it.  There is no telling where you will end up geographically.  But, one thing you will know is that you are living God’s will for you – your original design by the Great Creator.  Letting go can be scary stuff – especially for those who like the routine.  There is nothing routine or tamable about our living Lord!

And, wherever the Spirit flows, there will be teeming life.  Fish of all kinds will be caught in the torrents of the river of God, the river of life.  For those of you out there who think you are an odd fish indeed, like me, it gives us comfort.  The only other alternative would be the salt-filled marshes and swamps were life stagnates and dies.

And there will be magnificent trees that will bear fruit every month.  The fruit is food for the world, and the leaves will be for healing.  Are these trees of life?  You know, like the one in the Garden of Eden?  The tree of life in the Garden of Eden was not forbidden fruit until humanity are from the one tree that they shouldn’t have – the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  We can also look forward in the Scriptures to the verses toward the end of Revelation.  Read them below:

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. (22:1-2)

We have a hope that can neither diminish nor die out!  Let us celebrate it now!  Celebrate in the midst of an uncertain nation and world.  Point to the Savior of us all – Jesus the Christ. 

Enough mumbling for now… 

Peace Out