Rivers of water are probably one of or the most important water supply system man kind has. Through precipitation, springs and other means rivers come about providing every living thing all things needed for survival. Rivers are not the largest body’s of water we have, but are the ones that impact life the most. They are the healing waters of the planet; rivers. Now, Ezekiel was taken by an angel to see the process and effects of a river. He was taken to a puddle of water that barely covered his feet and the farther into the water he was lead the deeper it got; say to his ankle, knees and waste. This water that the prophet witnessed got to the point that as it grew it became virtually impossible to swim. He was also taken to see the rivers effect on life and other bodies of water. This river witnessed in Solomon’s temple was a small basin where the priest washed their hands and feet and waters lead to a larger basin where everyone else washed. It is a symbolic representation of the life we live in Christ via the Holy Spirit and its effect on others.
Ezekiel 47:8-9
8 He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah,[b] where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh. 9 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.
We begin in Christ at ankle deep relationship. When we come to God for the very first time we enter into a stage of testing Him and having small but refreshing experiences. Our feet begin to get fitted with the gospel of truth(ef. 6:15). It is the first stage for which new born Christians experience. The scriptures become alive and our eyes are opened like it happened to Lydia in Acts 16 “14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home.” In order for us to walk smoothly we need our ankles and in Christ and therefore, we need our foot steps lightened and the psalmist said that he provides a broad path so that we do not stumble (ps 18:36).
Ezekiel was lead through the waters to his waist. Within that are of the waist is the loins and that is considered where the strength of man is. The loins is the point where the spine meets the pelvis. It is the place where the power to procreate is at. Paul tells us “ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist”(Ef. 6:14), suggesting that as Christians there needs to be a time when we have to be strong and this with the truth in Christ. When hard times come if we are not strong or if we have not been strengthened at our loins we will tumble and leave. Jesus spoke to his disciple about girding their loins round about(Lk.12:35), because there is an urgency for Christians to being strong.
Ezekiel’s next experience was one that seemed to be out of his control. He was lead to the waters but he could not cross it because the current was too strong and out of control. Our lives should get to a point where God is in total control. God told Zerubbabel its not by power or might but by my Spirit (Zac: 4:6). The question that too often is asked why all the hassle? Why do I need to grow? God’s purpose as to why we should grow is for others to feed of us as in the river. When the river flows it heals everything along the way even the things that are dead will come alive. Ezekiel was taken to the bank and all the trees along side were fruitful because of the river. The dead sea when the river met with it was affected; the dead becomes alive. Jesus said “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water”.