Water

Throughout the Old Testament we see God using water to perform the greatest miracles. At the creation of the world, God gathered the waters together and made dry ground (Gen 1). God used water to flood the entire earth at the time of Noah (Gen 6-9). God's first plague on Egypt at the time of Moses was changing the Nile's water into blood (Exo 7). When Moses lead the Israelites out of captivity, God parted the Red Sea (Exo 14). When Joshua lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, God parted the Jordan River (Jos 3). God ended a drought at the time of Ahab (1Ki 17-18). God rescued Jonah from the big fish (Jon 2).

God also used water for many other less prominent miracles. Baby Moses escaping death from Pharaoh through the Nile (Exo 2). Moses' bitter water made sweet (Exo 15). Water coming from a rock when Moses struck it (Exo 17). Gideon's fleece was/wasn't filled with dew (Jdg 6). Water for Samson to drink (Jdg 15). River parting for Elijah (2Ki 2). River parting for Elisha (2Ki 2). Water looking like blood to the Moabites (2Ki 3). Naaman cured of leprosy (2Ki 5). Axhead floating (2Ki 6).

From water the earth was born at the creation. At the time of Noah, the earth was reborn from water. Water was symbolic of life and death in the first plague. When crossing the Red Sea, water marked the departure of slavery into freedom. With Joshua, water was the bridge into the promise land. For many during the time of Ahab, rain was the escape from death. Jonah was saved from his watery tomb when he repented. For many, water to drink was a matter of life or death. Naaman was not cured of his leprosy until he obeyed in the water. Do you see how God used water to make a point in the Old Testament; birth, rebirth, life, death, freedom, promises, and cleansing?

During Jesus' ministry, His first miracle was turning water into wine (Joh 2). He also caused a great catch of fish (Luk 5), calmed the storm (Luk 8), and walked on water (Joh 6). Jesus used water to describe salvation. He told Nicodemus about being born of water (Joh 3), and the Samaritan woman of living water (Joh 4). Jesus' own ministry started with emersion into water (Mat 3). The last thing he told his disciples was to teach and baptize (Mat 28).

Some may ask is baptism really that important. All we have to do is look at the early church in Acts (2:37-41, 8:5-13, 8:35-38, 9:17-19, 22:14-16, 10:42-48, 16:14-16, 16:29-34, 18:7-8, 19:1-5). There are too many examples to ignore. Could it be the importance of water of the Old Testament continues into the New? Could it be baptism is a matter of life and death, a cleansing, freedom from sins, and entrance into our promised land?

"What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin - because anyone who has died has been freed from sin." - Romans 6:1-7

-Jay Crook