Water in God’s Plan

In the very long ago God chose to use water as the means of destroying a sin-cursed
world. (Gen.6:) I do not know why He did it this way. I’m sure there were many other
means at His disposal–but God sent a great flood upon the earth, by which he removed
the corruption, and saved Noah and his family. (1 Pet. 3:20-f) Thus water became a
“dividing line” between the filthy and the cleansed.

When God delivered the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage, he led them to the
Red Sea. This was not the regular route out of Egypt. Not far to the north was a dry-land route. But God led them to the sea and made for them a path between walls of water. They were immersed in cloud and sea. (I Cor.10:1-f) When Pharaoh’s army sought to follow them, the sea closed on it, destroying this enemy. Thus water became a “dividing line” between bondage and freedom. I do not know why God did it this way.

When Naaman, captain of the Syrian army, came to God I s prophet for healing of his
leprosy, he was told to “wash in the Jordan, seven times. (2 Kings 5:) It does seem a
strange requirement! Naaman said, “I thought” the prophet would do differently. He
reasoned that his homeland streams were better than Jordan — if water was all that was
needed. But of course water was only the medium chosen by God for this miracle. I do
not know why God did it this way.

But I know that when Naaman submitted to God’s command, and dipped seven times
in Jordan, he was healed of his leprosy. Some may ask, “Was there anything in the
water that contributed to this healing?” I answer, “Yes!! Naaman was in the water, where
God told him to be.” The healing was by God’s power, but it was applied to an obedient
subject only. Thus water became the “dividing line” between sickness and health.
When Jesus healed the man born blind (Jn.9: 1-f) he used water as the “dividing line”
between blindness and sight. He anointed the man’s eyes with clay, then said, “Go,
wash in the pool of Siloam.”

I do not know why He did it this way. I only know that the man was blind until he did
what the Lord told him to do — and when he washed, he could see.
God, with divine power, cleansed the world, freed Israel, healed the leper, and gave
sight to the blind. In all these manifestations of His power He used the element water.
He asked the subjects to use that water as He directed; and He withheld the blessing
until their faith was thus demonstrated. I do not know why. It has not occurred to me to
question.

And it is difficult for me to understand why people who claim to have faith in God, will
question His command to be baptized “for the remission of sins.” (Acts 2:38; 22:16) Is it
so strange that God would choose to use water as the “dividing line” between the old
life of sin, and the new Christian life? (Rom. 6:3-f) The more puzzling question is how a
true believer could “reject the counsel of God against himself?” (Lu.7: 30)
– Robert F Turner