The River Flows
In a recent post, The River of Life, we looked at the importance of the river image to Jubilee Church. It’s a picture for us of the church taking the good news of Jesus out from the church and into the community.
The Bible starts and ends with the picture of a river. In Genesis 2:10-14 we see a river that starts in the Garden of Eden. Within the garden it splits into four streams and each is given a name and flows into a different region.
Pishon, Gihon, Tigris and Euphrates
The first river mentioned in Eden is Pishon. This means increase or full-flowing. Gihon, the second river, means bursting forth or gushing. Tigris means swift or darting and the fourth river, the Euphrates, means sweet or fruitful.
These names are such a wonderful picture of God’s grace and mercy flowing out for all of us to enjoy.
And to share with others.
Flowing from the Temple
Ezekiel 47:1-12
In Ezekiel’s vision the river represents the presence of God and his transforming power. It flows from the temple, which is the dwelling place of God. A river is especially powerful, bringing abundant life wherever it goes. It’s an image of restoration.
Flowing from the throne of God
Revelation 22:1-2
Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.
The Bible ends with the river flowing from the throne of God bringing God’s presence, restoration and healing.
There are many more examples of the river image in the Bible. It may represent God’s peace, God’s sustaining power, God’s provision and blessing, renewal and life or represent the Holy Spirit.
Why not study this for yourself?
Recently Mike wrote this inspired by the passage from Ezekiel 47.
River
Running away with my thoughts, words start to flow freely
Imagination surges with pictures and ideas
Visualising the opening gate of the City
Eastern exit for this river of life to
Race into the desert, the barren land,
growing wider and wider, deeper and deeper,
bringing hope to despair,
fruit to the fruitless, freshness to the saltiness,
so that the river becomes a place of refuge, a place of rest, healing to the nations ….
take off your shoes,
let Me lead you by the hand, to enter, swim and rest in Me.
© Mike Holt 2024
