LIKE A RIVER
Of all the features of the wild, the river is the one that most often impacts civilization. While people find it important to control the effects of the wilderness, the river is invited to mingle with civilization, because rivers bring water of life. People try to contain it, control it, but we are reminded constantly that the river has the power to bring unintended consequences, exercising unwelcome power over civilizations and altering their future.
The power of God’s Word supersedes the norms of culture. I have always been surprised that the idea that Moses, “Born of Water,” grew up as the adopted son of Pharaoh’s Daughter, is given so little attention. Pharaoh was schooled and immersed in the Egyptian religion. Moses also was schooled by teachers groomed to inspire future kings. The Egyptian religion was the means of internalizing the norms and aspirations of the civilization, and Egypt was the most prosperous of its time. Yet for all of its power, the Word of God crept into Moses’ awareness and ultimately dominated his passion. How amazing that the very lessons Moses learned in school were transformed into a means of toppling the empire they were intended to preserve. The Word of God is a river of Life.
And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.
Revelation 22: 1-5
The power of God’s Word supersedes the norms of culture. I have always been surprised that the idea that Moses, “Born of Water,” grew up as the adopted son of Pharaoh’s Daughter, is given so little attention. Pharaoh was schooled and immersed in the Egyptian religion. Moses also was schooled by teachers groomed to inspire future kings. The Egyptian religion was the means of internalizing the norms and aspirations of the civilization, and Egypt was the most prosperous of its time. Yet for all of its power, the Word of God crept into Moses’ awareness and ultimately dominated his passion. How amazing that the very lessons Moses learned in school were transformed into a means of toppling the empire they were intended to preserve. The Word of God is a river of Life.
And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.
Revelation 22: 1-5
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