1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in
trouble. 2 Therefore
will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be
carried into the midstof the sea; 3 Thoughthe waters thereof roar and be
troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. 4 There is a river,
the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the
tabernaclesof the most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not
be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. (Psalm 46:1-5)
We shall undertake a study today of three different
rivers, each representing one of the Three Persons of the Godhead. Three
different daily devotions will be required to adequately cover these Three
Rivers – the Mighty Nile of Africa, the Zayanderud of Persia, and Underground
River at Shechem in ancient Samaria. We will first examine the Mighty Nile
River and its many characteristics that are typical of God the Father, as well
as to God the Son. On the next two days following, we will cover the Zayanderud
(Giver of Life) and the Underground River at Shechem respectively. I have
written on these rivers before but, hopefully, I will have gained greater
insight from the first writings.
How very much like a mighty river are the blessings,
mercies, and love of God. A true river never stops flowing, and neither does
the love and blessings of God. Both have an unbounded and munificent abundance
as their Source.
The Nile River as a Type of God the Father:
The Mighty Nile River of Africa is the longest river
in the world – 4,130 miles in length stretching from the shores of Lake
Victoria to the Mediterranean Sea (Fertile Crescent). God, too, is the Ancient
of Days whose beginning and end are without measure.
The Nile River could extend from Lost Angeles to
Washington, D.C. and back again. Perhaps Washington, D.C. could benefit from
its cooling waters to counter the immensity of `hot air' being generated there.
On a visit to our churches in Kenya a few years ago,
we spotted the very source of the Nile River Waters at the top of the continent
of Africa – Mount Kilimanjaro. Landing at Nairobi, we could see the majestic,
snow-clad mountain some few miles to the south (just across the national
boundary in Tanzania). It appears as a flat-top table with fair linen draped
over its summit – much like the Lord's Table of the Communion. This mountain is
the highest in the continent of Africa (19,341 feet above sea level).
The snows of Kilimanjaro are, relatively speaking,
eternal; but God, without any relationship to time, is eternal in nature.
Though the snows remain as a crown to the mountain year around, enough of its
abundant snows melt to feed into beautiful Lake Victoria to its north. The Lake
is much like a sea in that one cannot see across its wide expanse. I was
blessed to make temporary quarters for more than a week on its shores. Those
melting snows come, like God, from the very highest source.
Many tributaries from the mountain streams feed into
Lake Victoria which, in turn, feed into the White Nile. The Blue Nile, most
heavily laden with nutrients from the earth, brings those nutrients and
sediments with it as it joins the White Nile. The two Rivers are much like the
Father and Son as they descend to bless the earth below. The Nile River passes
through ten countries on its northward way to the Mediterranean. It descends
from the highest Heaven of Africa to the lowest level of habitation at sea
level. God, too, extends His blessings from on High to the lowest and most
common of all creatures on earth. Thou visitest the earth, and waterest
it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is fullof water:
thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it. (Psalm 65:9) There is
no end to the rich Waters of Life provided by our Father in Heaven.
Eagerly waiting far away and far below the snows of
Kilimanjaro are the people of the delta region of Egypt. When all of the world
is in famine, Egypt enjoys an abundance of produce generated by the waters of
the Nile. The Nile rushes those thousands of miles and thousands of feet down
to the Nile River Delta where it deposits its rich minerals and nutrients on
the soil of the Delta. The Nile River Bed cannot contain the profusion of
waters, so the great river overflows its banks to deposit its treasures on the
fields of millions of farmers. How generous of it! If the Nile River is like
unto God the Father, and His love, we are like the river bed that cannot
contain that river for its abundance.
This characteristic of the Nile River may be compared
to the Nature of God. He has provided the White Manna of Life (melting snows
laden with nutrients) to us. He hails from on high. He is pure and White, and
His riches are unsearchable. So the Nile River is illustrative of the Father.
Many souls would perish of hunger and thirst were it
not for the Nile River. Many souls will perish for hunger for the Bread of Life
and the Water of Life without God's Son, Jesus, to supply our need. Of course,
all things of God are also of Christ. He is our River of Life that God has
provided for our salvation and comfort. And he shewed me a pure river of
water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the
Lamb. (Rev
22:1) Perhaps this river, mentioned in the last Book of the Bible, is
the same as that first River mentioned in the first Book of the Bible (Genesis 2:10) restored
to us after Adam's Fall?
Have you tasted these waters of the river of God?
Have you shared its abundance with others today?
