Seventh Day Baptist
Christian Education Council
PO BOX 1678
Janesville, WI 53547
Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side.
Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits, and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. And he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?”
Then he led me back to the bank of the river. As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other.
(ESV)
And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.”
(ESV)
—Ezekiel 47:1-7, 12
by: Lisa Moore.
As Ezekiel walked further away from the temple with his guide, the water flowing from it became deeper. First ankle deep, then knee deep, then waist deep, until it reached became a river that he could not pass over. What symbolism to describe our Christian walk! When we start out, we are just learning about Him (ankle deep). But as we continue to pursue Him, we reach a point where we go deeper and higher in the things of God. And just as the rivers provided fertile ground for numerous trees to produce fruit, we too, people from every nation, will continually produce fruit because we are connected to Christ.
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